[EricH]

I know you're frustrated. However, if you're going to Championships, you'd get the same response.

This rule has been discussed here before. I'm not going to get into that, except to say the following:

The bolts are not counted in the determination of the frame perimeter if they're in the bumper zone, to facilitate the tight and robust connection.

However, the inspector made a mistake. He should have referred to <R16>, which bars anything from extending beyond the frame perimeter. The frame perimeter is defined by the frame--no longer by the bolts.

For reference, the rules in this case were contained in Team Update #6 and Team Update #7, and then clarified in response to a direct question--nothing outside the bumper zone is exempt.

I agree--you gain little to no advantage. But the rule is the rule. I have a decided opinion on the--err--nuisance factor of enforcing the rule the way it's being enforced that I think matches yours.