Chuck, regarding the "must solo" clause to obtain a float rating I agree totally with your position, but there is an interesting sequel to this dictate from TC. A few years back, TC decided to go after folks who unable to obtain or afford coverage for students soloing float planes were simply ignoring the rule and sitting in the aircraft whilst the student completed the required "solo" landings and take offs, when TC got wind of this they tried to ground and cancel the float ratings of pilots who having trained with any outfits who had indeed "bent the rules" to avoid punitive insurance costs, one of these pilots I know very well, at the time of this action by TC he had over 5,000hours {accident free} PIC on C185, Beavers and Otters, when TC tried to ground him he hired a lawyer who would have made TC look bloody stupid if they were to do this, one of the points he used was to point out that within the ranks of TC there were in fact inspectors who had done the very same thing when they were running outfits out side of TC, so the issue was quietly forgotten, and this still goes on in the "real world", maybe now with the departure of JD this nonsense can be changed to reflect reality!