The pony's stripes are just due to the coloring of her feet. I'm pretty sure she's not a closet appaloosa even though she may have the personality of one :)
Correct. And the white around the eye, can be due to a bald face. That does not mean, they have Appaloosa blood. The breed's characteristics are unique. Looking at Cindy's Sara Lee, I don't think, she is an Appaloosa. One never knows, what's lurking in that gene pool.
Not to say that there can't still be crop outs. Wapiti was a prime example. An Appaloosa out of two registered Quarter horses.