Ron, that's pretty much my thinking, except I'd say why have a section talking about slotted holes when it just duplicates what you've said about generic round end features, or am I missing something?.
I think 1.8.4 covers it and matches figures 1-27, 1-35b & 1-35c. Fig 1-35a doesn't match para 1.8.4.
To me, based on what it says at 1.4 then when there appears to be a conflict between a figure and the text, I go with the text, so I discourage schemes like 1-35a.
Our of interest in the draft does the equivalent of 1.8.10 just refer to 1-27 or is there no illustration or is the whole para removed?
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...