I dug deeper and it is only the linux-generic meta package that depends on linux-restricted-modules etc so the can be safely removed leaving the actual kernal intact , I tried this on one of my boxes and it worked, the hand compiled nvidia driver now survives a reboot.
** Changed in: linux-meta (Ubuntu) Status: New => Invalid -- linux-restricted modules blocks nvidia driver https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/211606 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs