nigelh, I think there's a case for at least some proficiency in touchdown autos in an instructor rating - it's one of those sequences that really boosts the confidence, and I'd like to see it at least demonstrated to any student learning to fly a helicopter as well.
A bit like stalling or spinning (in an approved type) a fixed wing - why do it, rather than just talk about it? To show that there's no big scary mystery, if it's done right.
The shooting out of helicopters thing is common for culling feral pigs etc, just needs approval.