I have made a live image, with installer, and it seems to work as I want, apart from one wrinkle.
I want the new user to be part of the sudoers group by default. and for sudo to be available. It seems that if you give a root password during the installation then sudo is disabled. Is there any way to change this behaviour? Many elements of our software system and configuration require sudo to be used. I would rather not leave the possibility of snookering oneself so early in the process. -- atp "A motorcycle is a bicycle with a pandemonium attachment and is designed for the especial use of mechanical geniuses, daredevils and lunatics." — George Fitch, Atlanta Constitution Newspaper, 1912