[Wlug] Overriding NIS accounts

I have an issue at my work with the configuration of one of our several flavors of linux servers. The goal is to override the NIS-specified login directory definition by using this syntax in /etc/passwd: +userx:::::/home/userx: +@grpx:::::: +:::::: /etc/nsswitch.conf has (in part): passwd: compat shadow: files nis group: files nis The distribution is Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.2 (Tikanga). If this was working I would get the following:

echo ~userx /home/userx

Instead, I'm getting the login dir specified in NIS. I've successfully configured a Red Hat 6.3 server to work properly, but this one is driving me batty. Any suggestions? TIA, Bill