“How it appears to an outside observer is completely inconsequential.”
Well, no, it is consequential, because it effects simultaneity. So, because of the apparent length contraction, events can’t happen at the same time for the observer and the observed. Going back to the photon as an example, when one is emitted, we see that it takes a certain amount of time to traverse space. However, for the photon, it appears to take zero time to travel any distance. You can’t say that we are right and the photon is wrong, because in either frame of reference everything behaves as if your observations are correct. So, both of those things are true, even though it seems to be a contradiction.
“Which leads to another part of the discussion - the question over whether turning on a flash light at light speed would project light forward onto something likewise moving at the speed of light”
Well, theoretically, you should see the light project forward. However, that’s completely theoretical, because no physical object with mass that could emit photons will ever be able to reach c. The trickier question is whether an outside observer would see the light beam project forward or not.
“The real question should be - “why is the speed of light...the speed of light?””
Yes that is the real question, and I don’t have much clue as to the answer to that.
“it appears to take zero time to travel any distance”
Because time compresses as a result of traveling > 0? Does it in fact go to 0 at c? So what’s to say that in the instant the photon knew it was traveling some vast distance it raised its hand and waved. Would you not observe the hand wave at the fraction of the instant amidst the distance traveled? Not sure simultaneity is violated unless the time spent from the photons frame of reference is absolutely 0 which seems ... odd, and theoretical... and problematic the more I think about it.
“no physical object with mass that could emit photons will ever be able to reach c”
This is the result of not being able to propel something behind you at c+1 in order to fully reach c. Thus I believe it’s not impossible to go faster than c, it’s simply that we haven’t figured out a way to do it yet.
If you could harness the vacuum of space in front of your vehicle in order to pull yourself ahead, since space is always in front of you, this I believe would allow you to exceed c. There has been discussion in the theoretical lately that there may be a way to do this (since space/vacuums aren’t empty), but they’re at a loss as to “how” because we don’t know what space actually “is”.
Then again, if time compresses to 0 and you go c+1, the time spent in your reference should be negative, allowing you to arrive before you leave.
*sigh*