RE: Turbine Regulations Saga
Tommy,
To answer your question, Yes (sort of).
The last time (about 2 years ago) changes to the turbine rules were being contemplated Bob Violett had a proposal for a 3 tiered waiver system similar to (but slightly more complicated than) what you described.
It was sent to the AMA around the same time as other proposals from the JPO, USRCJC, and some other individuals. I do not know what the kind of response it got from the AMA, but as I remember it was highly criticized by many in the jet community as too complicated, too restrictive, and too difficult to enforce.
I would not be opposed to a multi-level waiver system if the difficulties of administration and enforcement can be overcome. So far I have not seen a proposal for such a system that a majority of jet modelers and the AMA would agree to though.