Hi, laiback
Like pmpatrick, i've copied kabc many times between users, also from 2006 to mandriva 2007 RC2. Just to be sure I transferred the contacts on my installation once again, and it works.
I read the thread once again and noticed that you, according to what you wrote, have not copied .../.kde/share/apps/kabc but .../.kde/share/config/kabc . If that's not a typo you then should really make sure you copy the one in /apps/ .
Otherwise, the std.vcf file in .../.kde/share/apps/kabc is your adressbook in vcf format.
There are more files in that directory, and the one dated the latest is apparently the latest snapshot of your contacts, if it has reasonable file size. If you open that file from Konqueror, you will see the first contact, and, below it, the button "import all". That will indeed import all your contacts.
Hope one or the other helps!