Hi Everyone...SUCCESS!! As you suspected, it was a matter of re-mapping channels 7 & 8. I started playing around with the onscreen radio (gadget) and my DX6, flipping switches on my tx and noticing what was moving on the gadget. Followed your advice and re-mapped "smoke" to Channel 7 and then the "I" key started working for the Throttle Hold!
My DX6 setup is : Channel 1 Throttle
Channel 2 Ailerons
Channel 3 Elevator
Channel 4 Rudder
Channel 5 Dual Rates
Channel 6 Mode
Channel 7 Smoke
Channel 8 Basically Not Assigned
This is all in RF under "Edit Controller" menu.
Now all is well in the world!! I know it's still best to use the interlink as everything is already configured, it's just fun to be able to use my "New" DX6 as I really haven't bee able to fly much this winter and so I get to "play" with it (I'm such a geek!!! ;0)
Thank you everyone for your help!!!!