Dear god
I still disagree with a couple points you made....
1) I would go as far as to disagree about logging it as true dual time. Afterall, how many IPs in the pits are FAA certified CFIs? If it didnt matter, IPs would be given a CFI rating from the get go without the need to take the exam.
14 CFR 61.41:
(a) A person may credit flight training toward the requirements of a pilot certificate or rating issued under this part, if that person received the training from:
(1)A flight instructor of an Armed Force in a program for training military pilots of...
(i) The United States
This means you can log military flight time for a commercial, instrument, type rating, etc. Also, IPs are not "given a CFI rating (it's a certificate, not a rating) from the get go without the need to take the exam". This is because a military pilot would have no clue as to the process of endorsement, required actions, etc. that the FAA specifically requires. If all IPs did get CFIs immediately, there definitely would be a lot of violations.
2) I realize that many times people log PIC while receiving dual instruction, but in that case...the CFI should not be logging PIC time. At least that is the way I had it explained to me.
14 CFR 61.51
(e) Logging pilot-in-command flight time.
(3) An authorized instructor may log as pilot-in-command time all of the flight time while acting as an authorized instructor.
14 CFR 61.1
(b)(2) Authorized instructor means-
(ii) A person who holds a current flight instructor certificate issued under part 61 of this chaper when conducting ground training or flight training in accordance with the privileges and limitations of his or her flight instructor certificate...
This means that CFI's can log PIC. If CFI's could not log PIC while doing instruction I would have had a really hard time finding a CFI in the first place. Heck, who enjoys working 6am-10pm 7 days a week making less than $24,000 a year? It is all about working to the airlines.
3) I havent looked it up, but I have a hard time believing that instruction does not have to come from a CFI. That would mean one could take instruction from a person with 100 hours total time, then do one flight with a CFI to get the endorsement and then take a checkride. If what you are saying is correct, why do so many people waste their money with hiring a CFI the whole time?
As I stated above, authorized instruction has to come from a CFI. Sure, your buddy can take you up and "teach" you to fly, but you can not log dual time. If any FAA inspector got a hold of your logbook during a checkride and saw dual time with either a private pilot or no one at all, you are in trouble. I would say certificate actions and heavy fining could take place. Plus, the buddy who gave "instruction" would also be in trouble. Spend some time reading part 61 and you will start to understand the ramifications of messing with flight time can be.
4) I do agree with you though that if you are going to log it as dual time, it would look better if you list your IP and were up front about it rather than look like you are hiding something.
I would say you would be if you were not.
Relating back to a CFI in a squadron handing out a complex endorsement, that would come back to get the pilot and the CFI.
14 CFR 61.31
(e) Additional training required for operating complex airplanes.
(1) ...no person may act as pilot in command of a complex airplane (an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps
and a controllable pitch propeller) unless the person has-
(i) Received and logged ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in a complex airplane...
(ii) Received a one-time endorsement in the pilot's logbook from an authorized instructor who certifies the person is proficient to operate a complex airplane.
This could cause problems if the above happened. As a CFI I know of the liability assumed with instruction and endorsements. If some guy were to go off and kill himself and/or damage something as a result of flying a high endorsement plane I can be held liable for damages and huge fines. This has happened in the past with a private pilot killing himself and some passengers in a crash. The CFI responsible for the student pilot training was held responsible for the damages.
Overall, do not go messing around with aviation records. Always, always, always talk to a CFI first.