Apparently, we're not the only ones with this issue, see this link:

http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/QA2009034-%5B7483%5D.pdf

Basically, they are saying what we've been saying. The odd thing is that they consider a half-gate to not be a mark at all, unless the SIs specifically provide for that. That would be ugly.

I do like that they give several options, including abandon after the fact if all else fails (which in reality is always a last-resort option).

Mike