Sounds like you are fighting the Obitalk web page configuration system. From your message it sounds like you are logging directly into the Obi's web interface (at it's local IP address), yes? If you are then when you make a change, the ObiTalk web portal (
http://www.obitalk.com/obinet/) will override those settings.
You have to make a choice. If you want to configure everything from the Obi itself you need to turn off Auto Provisioning:
System Management -> Auto Provisioning -> ObiTalk Provisioning -> Method -> Disable
OR, you need leave it alone and go to the above web portal and do your configuration there. But it has to be one OR the other.
Tom
ps: I sympathize with you that every little change requires a reboot - that is indeed annoying.