Paul, my understanding is that FAA CPL(H)s are not required to do full downs unless they get to CFI training.
This is true, but what I was saying is that you should demonstrate a few to students before they solo so that they can see how a touchdown is different from a power recovery.
In Australia, you will find full downs are a syllabus requirement for CPL(H)s and must be demonstrated by the student during his flight test. I have visited several of the top helicopter schools in this country and can confirm it does form part of their CPL(H) training.
I personally think it should be required for the CPL is the USA as well. It's crazy to me to think that a commercial pilot should not be able to land after an engine failure.
Another major difference is that while our FAA counterparts normally land on concrete runways with long slides, the Australian pilot mostly lands on grass with very little forward movement after touchdown.
It depends on the school, but I agree that the majority of USA schools teach to pavement. The school I learned at and first taught at taught to the turf, and a friend's school here in Boston taught to the turf. I like to do both: the pavement at first because it is more forgiving, and then graduate to turf as the pilot in training gains experience because in real life an off airport landing is typically not going to be to pavement.