Now that I look at the list, the question really is: why didn't this explosion happen sooner?

Well you have answered it all in your first few paragraphs. This outburst needed a catalyst. It is unfortunate that the death of a teenager turned out to be the missing agent in this explosive mixture.

I do not have enough knowledge on all the underpinnings of Greece's social woes but the problems seem to be dating from quite a while back. The endemic corruption and issues of mistrust in some of the country's most essential institutions (i.e. the ones where this virtue should be at the core of their ideology, and warrant their deeds), were not tackled with enough seriousness and willingness and it is now backfiring violently!

However, I do not condone such acts of violence, and I have nothing but contempt for the ones who happily destroy and loot shop outlets.

The Greek government has come to a stalemate. Maybe it should resign or call for early elections; as a way to abate the contagious fever spreading in the country.

Regarding the parallel to the French riots of late 2005; they are commonalities in the violent displays of discontent, but great sociological and even ideological differences between the two movements. First, the French "Banlieues"' uproar was almost exclusively conducted by disgruntled youth, living in marginalized patches of suburbs (sometimes the whole suburb was marginalized!).
They were revolting against the police, whom they accused of pushing two teenagers to their death, and also protesting against their low living standards. They also held a deep grudge against French political elite and society for the latent racism they experienced whenever seeking jobs.
But the movement never spread to high school nor university youth from non-immigrant background; by this I mean those whose parents are not from African descent.

And I believe the little thread connecting these two entities was given a hammer blow when during the "Anti-CPE" demonstrations of 2006, the youth who were not from African descent were caught in between police's repression and aggression from peers from Banlieues; the same people who were rioting the year before. So it seems these groups have in fact little in common except their age.

The same groups could be better connected in Greece. But I also believe the police is more feared in France (among youth not from Banlieues) than it is in the cradle of Western Democracy.

Anyway, Greece is part of the E.U. as far as I know; has its government been advised by other countries in the region? Has it been debated among member countries?
That could be interesting to know...

Eddie.