readmemb / Quartus 14.1 / MIF files?

Thanks - I actually solved it, I should also reply for others who might run into it.

You can indeed initialize with a MIF file, but it requires a synthesis attribute instead, and isn't mentioned in the template description. I found the helpfile here: http://quartushelp.altera.com/14.0/mergedprojects/hdl/vlog/vlog_file_dir_ram_init.htm

--- Quote Start ---

Note: You can also specify the synthesis attribute of an inferred RAM, whose implementation you want to control, in a comment following the Variable Declaration. In the comment, the synthesis keyword must precede the synthesis attribute, as shown in the following code:

reg [7:0] mem[0:255] /* synthesis ram_init_file = " my_init_file.mif" */;

--- Quote End ---