What I find even more disconcerting are conditions that would ground a
private pilot with a third class medical which merely get documented
and waived for a first class holder who flies heavy iron every day.

The consistency is questionable.

z


If you can get a waiver for a condition on a first class you can get it for
a third.

You _can_ get a medical waiver on a third-class... but your chances
would seem to be much better on getting one with a first-class, because
holders of first-class medicals tend to fly for a living, whereas guys
with third-class ones don't. The FAA wouldn't bother with the
third-class waiver because of that.