While I concur with your hesitation, my first reaction on hearing about the fee was "Didn't they say you couldn't fly without a realid? Why am I able to fly without one then?" The idea that they may not be able to bar you without one jives with how this is playing out. Another commenter in this post also mentioned flying without id, which I also thought wasn't possible.
I stand corrected, at least in Pennsylvania (1). I misremembering the issues surrounding requiring Id to vote. The law that was struck down did provide a free id that would have been suitable for voting; however, that isn't required and no longer exists, and there was no mention I could find of if it would have been realid compliant.(2)
Since you can index expressions I wonder if that's because you essentially emhave to store the value in the index anyway and that wouldn't be expected for a virtual column?
I don't really understand why this restriction would be necessary. Wouldn't the computed value just get stored in the index btree keys, exactly the same as an indexed expression?
For comparison, MySQL permits indexing of virtual columns, and indexes on expressions share the same underlying implementation to support this. In other words, in MySQL an index on an expression is literally just an index on an internally-hidden virtual column.
I've used them for common transforms such as timezones (e g. data comes in as uutc and we query everything in Chicago time) just to make querying easier.
Just like on a car, if your break pads are capable of completely stopping the wheel, but the wheel is not capable of creating enough braking force with the surface, then you slide. If you lubricate between the wheels and surface, which is essentially what leaves do on rails, no amount of at-wheel breaking power will stop you.
This is what antilock Brakes in cars prevent, they pulse the brakes to allow the tire to regain traction, preventing slippage and loss of control.
Note that a modern train also has the same system, only more so, a car would typically have 4 wheels, I think the Acela probably has like 96 or something.
As someone who only has a 5w transmitter, I avoid field day and major contests. I love doing Parks on the Air when camping, and that ends up being a lot more enjoyable.
If it's not giving honest answers that implies it's purposely being deceitful, which it isn't capable of. Right?