Ok, Boris 30 done, so time for testing :
Running KoLmafia v15.3 r11323, Windows 7, Java 1.6.0_33, IE 9.0.8112.
Switched on debug log, clicked on discard link, switched off debug log.
The debug log was :
<!--lastseen:0000002764-->
<!--lastseen:0000002765-->
I then compared the two URL's on the discard links.
URL on ascend page (not working for me) : javascript:if(confirm('Are you sure you want to discard your Instant Karma?')) singleUse('inventory.php?which=1&action=discard&pwd=[PWD]&whichitem=4448&ajax=1');void(0);
URL on equipment page (working for me) :
http://127.0.0.1:60080/inventory.php?which=1&action=discard&pwd=[PWD]&whichitem=4448
I guess that narrows it down to either the lack of host/port at the front, or the presence of ajax=1, or javascript confirm is appearing but then not firing when Ok clicked. It seems interesting that the two options handle are you sure differently, with the first doing it in javascript, and the second presumably in kolmafia code (as it's not in the URL).