Totally agree. I guess my point is that with so many possible scenarios, it's hard to create simple hard-fast rules.Jackdaw, I agree that it is imperative to keep steerage way. The go slow rule is a starting point for consideration. We have 8 to 10 foot tides here in Beaufort with corresponding currents. If you are heading into the tide you'll have steerage way even going slow. If you have to dock with the tide, keeping steerage way is problemmatic here as you will be screaming into the dock. My point is that I've seen big boats with lots of momentum (20K displacement or more) come whipping in, even when there is no current and they could go a lot slower and still have steerage way in forward. They then slam it into reverse. Did it look cool? - sure. But why approach faster than you have to to keep steerage way? Too many what ifs. If you combine the "keep steerage way" along with "don't approach faster than you are willing to hit the dock" you'll try and select an approach that lets you keep both principles in mind, if possible.
The way issue is a huge one for me. I sail a lot of boats with Dual rudders; my First 260, the Pogos and Figaros. These boats have NO PROP WASH to help generate steerage as the wash goes aft right between the rudders.. You lose way and you are DONE.