I don't think you have accurately assessed the effects that some of these parts in the beginning will have on new players, especially those that have never LARPed before. I think it's important to emphasize that the game is about roleplaying, and that rules are merely there to facilitate that, and I've always liked the distinction placed between your character perhaps being dishonorable, and the player always playing in an honest way, but your five minutes hate on "rules gnomes" and "rules lawyers" does not help that case, and I actually think the negative tone will lose you new players. I haven't read all the way through the new edition yet, but if it's like the old edition, this talk will come up later. I think it's entirely possible to get across that marshalls will sometimes make rulings that don't match the letter of the rule, but match their original intent, without saying "Rules Lawyers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." To me, that discourages knowledge of the rules system, because if you use that knowledge, people will just accuse you of lawyering.
You might think that this only scares away the kind of lawyers and gnomes that we don't want playing with us, but I have to respectfully disagree. Especially to a new player, what determines how he or she will act within a world and rules system has more to do with the culture of other players than any intrinsically lawyeristic personality traits. Had I been in a different mood when I read the old rulebook, I might have been scared away myself, and... well, you'll have to consult with the people in Oregon that I've played with, but I like to think I'm fun and improve the game experience for others.
You may think that I'm way off-base, and that your experience dealing with lawyers and gnomes tells you that it's best to nip that kind of behavior in the bud (ie, before you see it). I can really only give you the experience and perspective of one pseudo-new player, but I think anyone can agree that it does not make your organization sound any friendlier. I was pleased, despite my fears, with the friendly treatment I was given in my first event with Alliance Oregon, but I think I'd still be a little intimidated to play with you, Mike.