David,

With great respect in return, I started my comment with an clarification that I have no education or pretense of a firm understanding of these matters... so you are reiterating my lack of understanding rather than revealing it. May I suggest you consider losing the patronizing 'from-on-high' tone?

Why not enlighten? It's one thing to point out that others don't have your superior knowledge, but another entirely to help. What, for example, is the difference between mass-balancing and balancing on the pivot point when referring to a full-flying stab. I have a feeling that most people think they're one-and-the-same. Static balance at the pivot point as a rule has been thoroughly debunked to my satisfaction (even with my clearly limited capacity to understand) by the AE people I know.

I'm all ears.