Fuji
The documents you refer to are normally kept with the aircraft, not trundled around an airport in a flight bag.
On landing solely to clear customs outbound it would be normal to carry passport and flight plan for filing.
The point I was hightlighting was the danger of inadvertantly or by misdirection going through a non return door, finding yourself seperated from your aircraft and any additional documentation the authorities may require.
The other point was the inspection by the gendarme of medical and other aspects of the licence. This is the first time I have come across this.
On your Perpignan and Menorca experiences did you have the docs to hand, or did they let you go to the aircraft to retrieve them?
On our last trip to Menorca I complained to FIS that the fuelling company did not accept normal international credit cards.
That was a mistake. It resulted in our passports being 'examined' by the Guardia Civil for about 3/4 hour.
Bearing in mind the water crossing back to the mainland, it pays to be loaded with cash before departure from Menorca.
As you said who needs the stress. Fly to friendly places.