Hey,
just noticed that there is a tiny error in the W:ET Editing wiki on the surfaceparm page:
http://wiki.splashdamage.com/index.php/Surfaceparms
Atleast when I compile with q3map2 2.5.16 and play on ET 2.60b surfaceparms are only working wihtout those spaces.
So e.g. grass steps should be grasssteps etc
regards