setting a course category for the course request button did no affect on the course view page.
i could only turn it on and off with $enablecourserequest variable.

i found that the code in moodle/course/index.php (lines 79-82) was hardly functional since
this page was only visible in a unique situation when it was directly called from the URL or the
navigation link. in all other situation the moodle/course/category.php was called.

so i suggest moving this functionality to category.php page
plus changing it (in the following way) so the button appears only in the right category.
(as defined by the admin)

i added these lines (category.php) after line 504 "print_course_search();"
and before line "print_footer();"

        if (isloggedin() and !isguest() and !has_capability('moodle/course:create', $sysctx) and $CFG->enablecourserequests and $CFG->defaultrequestcategory == $id ) { // Print link to request a new course
            print_single_button('request.php', NULL, get_string('courserequest'), 'get');
        }
        if (has_capability('moodle/site:approvecourse', $sysctx) and !empty($CFG->enablecourserequests) ) {
            print_single_button('pending.php',NULL, get_string('coursespending'),'get');
        }

i also suggest we remove the lines 79-82 from course/index.php complitly because it displays a request button
on a general page and not in a specific category. as instructed by the admin interface... that this button only shows
on a specific category.

if all request are tunneled to one list that is ok BUT if i (the admin) have to go throw all the categories and look for
new courses... then i think this button should be disabled ?