$res->numRows, that was the piece of information I have been missing and wasn't able to find. Just to be sure: same problem with $dbr->freeResult, but there's no replacement ... right?
Works fine now, thank you.
@
TheDJ
no, I really don't want to. Non-voluntary. These are the sort of "improvements" that make Mediawiki worse, not better. I know someday I must but that's nothing I am looking forward to. I've seen many "closed circles" of software developers drifting away to outer space, your companions are en route. Honestly: we only stick to Mediawiki because there's no alternative.