RE: GETTING PAID
KE,
Thats right. You can only be reimbursed for their share of the expense. If you make any money (profit) from the flight, it falls under the realm of a comercial pilot, and that is a big no-no, if I remember correctly. It has been a few years since I took the test as well, but I do seem to remember that as a sticking point. You cannot make money with a simple Private pilot's license, you must have the commerical rating to do so.
Tommy