Rules of thumb....it seems
Frog
That is just the problem. Rules, laws whatever are made by those charged to do it. But, when it comes to the crunch where are they. We are left to work it out for ourserves.
I don't know what the french authority is like but try ringing the CAA. At best you will get interpretation from whoever, who adds the caveat "but don't take my word for it" or they simply read out to you the LASORS passage that you have in front of you.
It all really started with the JAA. Each countries authority becoming a processing organisation but with no one body in charge at the centre, will no doubt get worse.
Come back please Elizabeth Cullen-Hayes we need you desperately! We need decisions to be made and a tiny bit of common sense would be very nice.