I am unclear on what your last paragraph is saying. I don't know anyone that would protest someone for asking a question, at any level. I wouldn't answer the question as an RO, because the course would be properly posted, but I may point to the board at a club race.
Technically, if a competitor asks a question of RC or another boat, and gets an answer, that consitutes outside help under RRS 41(e) because it was solicited. In practice, however, most such occurences are far too trivial to protest and are routinely permitted. In my usual fleet, it's quite common for a sailor to forget what the course is (or forget to look) and ask another sailor during the race.
Conduct of the RC at any race is somewhat subject to what the competitors want. But, unless you are intimately familiar with the sailors at the event, you have to be careful how much you lower the standards.
I think we're actually pretty much in agreement. RC must strive to be fair to all competitors. RC can communicate with competitors quite a bit without prejudicing anybody, but exactly where to draw the line varies with the level of competition and traditions of the classes / event. If you are working a regatta, it is good to talk to the fleet representative(s) beforehand to understand how best to meet the sailors' desires and expectations.
I was simply saying (from my observation) that general opinion has changed from when I was first certified. Back then, the edict was "say nothing". Now the approach seems to be more open and communicative - within the bounds of what best serves to make a good event - and still be fair. I don't think that constitutes "lowering standards". For example, in the first PHRF races I worked, the PROs demanded radio silence during the starting sequence so that the flags and guns were the only information to competitors. Now it is common (and encouraged) for the PRO to announce the upcoming sequence and course over the VHF, and even to count down to the start. As long as the channel is disclosed, and all boats have a VHF radio (which is required by PHRF), it is fair - and the competitors love it.
There are plently of posts on this forum that speak to issues of perceived favoritism.
Well, this summer, I sailed in a 2-day regatta where my wife was the PRO on my course. There was no wind (and no races) the first day. The second day there was enough wind to run one race, which I was lucky enough to win. My wife kept us out and ran another race in really light and patchy wind just to give everyone another opportunity to beat me. Yet another example of reverse favoritism - lol.
Regards,
Eric
