Empty boxes in easytime

Use Easy Step. Easy time is a VERY advanced type of editing.
Sincerely,

I use EasyStep when I want a fixture to have a static setting in a scene/switch

I use EasyTime when I want a fixture to change over the course of a scene/switch; used it before, don't consider it too difficult to understand

either way, it still should not have white/empty boxes, should it???

Easy step can be very helpful in making scenes with more than one step. Or the Efx generator is also a good tool. From what i understand from your pics posted above the empty boxes mean that at that time that channel is not in use and has nothing programmed to it.
Sincerely,

consider channels 88/95/102 in the picture below; they have values of 30/28/233, respectively, at the 0.2sec mark, but all we see is a white box in the timeline

I would imagine since there is no icon in the profile for that value then it just shows up blank. Are you having issues with the playback of this scene? Or just wondering why it is blank?
Sincerely,

ahhhh!!!

looked at the profile, and there is no icon for this channel; this is the "Pattern Select" channel for this fixture, so there is nothing in the predefined icons that fits; all I'd really like is a numeric readout, just like I see with the X/Y channels; possible???

Well you get a numeric readout just under the channel 88 point. As far as getting a read out like the pan and tilt i am not sure. Also try clicking on the easy time button next to the "?" and see if it gives you any options.