Same problem here on a clean xubuntu daily install (Xubuntu 8.04 and xfce4-utils 4.4.2-4ubuntu1).
In my system, the screensaver doesn't start because startxfce4 are never called by default gdm session so /etc/xdg/xfce/xinitrc are not processed at all. You need to explicitly select Xfce Session in gdm login but on a clean installation this session isn't the default.
Same problem here on a clean xubuntu daily install (Xubuntu 8.04 and xfce4-utils 4.4.2-4ubuntu1).
In my system, the screensaver doesn't start because startxfce4 are never called by default gdm session so /etc/xdg/ xfce/xinitrc are not processed at all. You need to explicitly select Xfce Session in gdm login but on a clean installation this session isn't the default.
Not sure how to proceed.