Here is a suggested patch that will make kicker follow the setting that is in KGlobalSettings:

Index: k_mnu.cpp
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/projects/desktop/kde2/kde_source/kdebase/kicker/ui/k_mnu.cpp,v
retrieving revision 1.1
diff -u -r1.1 k_mnu.cpp
--- k_mnu.cpp   2001/11/21 15:27:32     1.1
+++ k_mnu.cpp   2001/11/30 02:46:33
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@

 #include <kaboutkde.h>
 #include <kglobal.h>
+#include <kglobalsettings.h>
 #include <kiconloader.h>
 #include <klocale.h>
 #include <kconfig.h>
@@ -148,7 +149,8 @@
     insertItem(SmallIconSet("exit"), i18n("Logout"), this, SLOT(slotLogout()));
     adjustSize();

-    insertTearOffHandle();
+       if (KGlobalSettings::insertTearOffHandle())
+           insertTearOffHandle();

     init = true;
 }

The default is to enable tear off handles. To disable it, add this line to your ~/.kde/share/config/kdeglobals
file in the [KDE] section:

[KDE]
InsertTearOffHandle=false