/loadui is THE DEVIL. It may take you an extra 3 mins each time you change, but just log out, change your eq2.ini and log back in. /loadui screws stuff up.
skininfo.xml only contains the info about the skins name and such. It doesn't contain your settings.
But here's a trick for ya. Set up your UI the way you like it and then log out. Find your character settings .ini file (it'll be named like server_char_charactersettings.ini or something like that) and COPY that to the same folder, renaming it something like "Custom_Custom_charactersettings.ini" (Making Custom the name and server). Make that file read-only.
Change your eq2.ini file to use default. Get things the way you like it. Repeat the last step, only naming it like Default_Defualt in place of Custom_Custom or something. Also make it read-only.
Then, when you switch UIs
by logging out and editing eq2.ini when you're in game just use /load_uisettings and select the saved version you have to load your settings. But remember: /loadui is the DEVIL
And yes, many people do come through here... but it's also the holiday season and folks are busy. Don't get upset if you don't get an answer right away -- at least give it a week.