aterm-1.00.beta[23] builds fine also without afterstep. For the beta2 version a trivial patch is needed. So the afterstep dep should be made optional with a local useflag.
Created attachment 60575 [details, diff] aterm-1.00.beta2 patch
In the pkg_postinst message fbsetbg is suggested for setting the wallpaper, but it's just a wrapper, so it doesn't work alone. I think it would be wiser to suggest "feh" instead.
although this does cripple aterm somewhat, you're probably correct that it should use a local useflag.
1.0.0 is out. ebuild follows.
Created attachment 68055 [details] aterm-1.0.0.ebuild This is the aterm-1.0.0 ebuild. Only the two patches were removed in comparison to the aterm-1.00_beta2.ebuild ebuild.
1.0.0 in CVS.