If you are flying because your passenger wants to go somewhere (and you
don't have a legitimate reason to go as well...and even if your passenger
doesn't give you a penny) you are being given an opportunity to log time
that you might not otherwise be logging...this is considered compensation.

Does this "opportunity" not exist in other circumstances? Every time I
fly I have the opportunity to log time I might otherwise not be logging.
Every time I wake up I have the opportunity to fly.

The FAA is so bizzare on this it is no surprise it gets no respect.
What surprises me is the number of pilots that seem to =support= this
kind of interpretation.

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.