OK, I won't beat you up anymore then. I don't want you to quit using X-cart!
FIRST thing. NEVER include the session info in your links. It gets transferred automatically. Adding session info to your links will cause ALL kinds of problems.
Your category link should be clean link this
http://www.adpmods.com/xcart/customer/home.php?cat=14
That's it. Nice and simple.
Second.
I will add link for the category supression idea. I have to go find it.
Just put your image placeholder in the template you want it to appear in and add the hyperlink as per usual. very simple. I will help find out how you can "Suppress" those cats.