Triadic,
Mate, if ANYONE taxied out of the RPT apron at night in LT without PAL ie no taxi leadout lighting and the rest to either HDG PT(ie 14R or 32L) and HOLD SHORT LIGHTS!!), then I am sorry YOU ARE BLIND. It is "darker than Kamahl" mate.
I stand by my statement that Blind Freddy would notice that there were NO LIGHTS ON.
PS I know exactly how good the lights are on modern a/c and it would not make one bit of difference.
But the rest of your post I agree too.