right now the default 'template' in the roundup cgi
interface is 'index'. Further, client.py hardcodes
ad-hoc rules as to what template to use depending
on the 'context' (determine_context).

I think these things are good candidates for config
options. For example, I'd like
'http://issues.fresco.org/bug'
to display a documentation page for the 'bug' type, instead
of the 'index' page I get now.

Logged In: YES 
user_id=6405

You could replace the contents of the "index" template with your help  
page, and then change the "search" template so its results are displayed in  
the "search_results" template instead of the "index" template.