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I shouldn't have wasted time time on this.

Don't let armchair quarterbacks discourage you. There are plenty of them here, but your comments are valuable to some of us, actually knowing what you're talking about and all. :-)

Thanks

I spent most of my life as an independent contractor, and a large part of my life as a commercial superintendent on small to medium projects(10 - 50 million dollar).

Any one who thinks the inspection process has anything to do with safety or code standards probably hasn't gone through many inspections.
If you happen to have encountered inspectors who know what they are looking at , I would say that is the exception rather then the norm.
The main thing that is inspected is the permit.
And thats to make sure the fees are paid.

Now I'm sure that there is a place for inspections and inspectors ... some one needs to make sure that little Johny helper doesn't just go buy a truck and some tools from the pawn shop and go at it wide open with no oversight.
But the truth is , that most people who "do" the work everyday keep up with the changing dynamics of the materials and the installation recommendations a lot closer then the guys in the white hats and shiny black slick soled shoes.

The problem is especially bad in the residential field.
Most of the inspectors are guys who couldn't cut it as contractors , so they got a job with the gov.
... yes , now there are certification programs to make sure that minimum knowledge standards are met,but these programs are becoming more of a "job protection" program for incompetent government employees.
They close the field to outsiders and only those in the field can advance in the field.
SOP in so many fields today.

The only real exception to this is the State fire Marshal inspections, those are for real.