I don't think we need the rule, I will oppose it if asked. My prediction is: if such a rule were adopted, it won't be 500' for very darned long.

As you aptly point out, and John certainly knows, once you've implemented a regulation it only begets further and more asinine regulation. Reading John's academic work you'd have no idea it was the same John Cochrane who's proposing this new (un)safety rule.