Ok Ralph, I'll speak up:

>Here's where I think we are:
><snip>
>Is this close?

Your summary seems fine.

>is pica implementing SRU?
Pica is busy implementing SRU (and if possible SRW too). I hope to have a
full implementation shortly after the specs are fixed. It is important for
us (due to our architecture SRU is nicer than Z39.50)

>are we polite with sessionID's?
Normally the first correct contact with the server will result in a returned
sessionID. As long as the sessionID is valid, repeated requests will result
in the same sessionID being returned. (we can hide the ticket office).

>cookies?
(session) Cookies are fine, special for XML in browser environments. In case
of non browser applications it is bit of a mute point. To the server
application "POST" forms, "GET" forms and cookies are almost equivalent.
They all are name/value pairs. I would accept sessionID's in all these
places.

>alive time sets
Sets will be gone when the sessionID is gone (actually slowly fade away)

Rob Koopman