I have had the pleasure of taking tows behind Walt. He is best in show and a class act. I only have a few hundred tows in our club Pawnees and about 800tt in power and 50 in sailplanes so I'm no expert. What I do know is this: sailplane pilots are usually type-A and do a great job of rationalizing risk factors to themselves and others. Tost hook be damned, Walt- the variability in sailplane pilots at any club/commercial op will be a risk factor no modified release will solve for. It's a question of whether or not you are comfortable blocking out that idea or not. If I recall correctly, your past career is heavily analytical and clinical- I don't think this question is solvable that way.