Hi Francis,
 
I'm really no expert in this field, but it looks like your pcscd is trying to respaw. For this to work you must (i think) give it the full path when you start it.
Try
sudo /usr/sbin/pcscd -df
 
This respawning might have something to do with 32 vs 64 bit architecture of your drivers.
 
This doesn't solve your original problem, i know, but it might give an explanation why you couldn't start it from the prompt.
 
BR
/Patrik


 
And when typing sudo pcscd -df
I get this:

/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/debuglog.c:240:DebugLogSetLevel() debug level=debug
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/pcscdaemon.c:389:main() pcscd set to foreground with debug send to stderr
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/readerfactory.c:1545:ReaderCheckArchitecture() Send respawn signal to pcscd (pid=794)
User signal 2