I got it to work.
After lucking out with the MD (raspberry 2), not even getting a view under Automation -> zwave, I moved my core from inside "hide away location" so I don't get the dropping issue, in light of my minimal switches.
Deleted the existing zwave device, then added back the zwave device to the core, no luck either.
Thus I took the stick out, excluded the switches, reset the stick and deleted the zwave interface from the core. Restarted the core, then plugged in the stick, followed the prompts and was able to see it in Automation -> Zwave as node 1. Then included the lights switches, grand total of two, plugged it back into the core, followed the prompt, nothing. I also was not seeing anything in automation -> zwave.
I then restarted the core, the wizard came up again, followed through the prompts. When I checked automation -> zwave, saw the nodes, node 1 being the stick, node 2, one switch and node 3 another. When i checked the status, for the nodes, both node 2 and 3, showed they are lnuxmce devices and the template number, so that was new and hopeful. Checked under lights and they were listed there, great. Added them to the rooms, reload and regen and it worked
Have attached some pics on ow it looks. Something to note, I have a GE and an Inovelli switch. Both work, but when you click on the node icon, the GE values especially for label switch, says true, the Inovelli that value is false. Listing also attached.
Thanks guys