DJM wrote:... The clear implication is that splits removal cannot be considered as an option at Level A.
That may, or may not, be what was intended but it clearly isn't what the rules say. They are a recommendation to follow IOF policy.
Quite apart from the specific wording of 7.10.5, the whole of section 7.10 is only a guideline - see 7.10.1.
This is an example of many issues with the current rules, mainly arising from when years ago some guidelines were simply bolted on to a tightly defined set of rules, creating numerous ambiguities. Many or all of the Appendices are written in the style of guidelines, not rules, and some (like the above) explicitly state that they are guidelines.