Very interesting thread.
I think that many pilots have now to their relief discovered that they are not all that strange after all.
I've been at 5000´ AGL in gusty winds in the H300 and I didn't like it. The floor just seemed to have left my heli when I got up there. 500´- 1500´ AGL are good altitudes and I'd like to fly there somewhere in between.
In my opinion I think its better to be closer to the ground in the event of any kind of emergency such as having to take a **** or maybe a more serious one, like fire. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
Heli-Ice