I am not a CPA or tax advisor, but that is what I have encountered when looking into this.

Certainly a good guide for what, as you mentioned, we're all likely to encounter eventually, at one time or another.

There is no name on the windows frame or glass, just a sticker with some numbers.

I encountered a woman recently who had hired Lowe's to install a new deck and she found the whole experience very frustrating.

I agree with other posters that there are all sorts of people in real estate, and you'll encounter the extremes of good and bad folks along your journey.

At the time of our conversation, he stated that he was not aware of or not have having had encountered any precedence for or against the series LLC model.

HI David,I really like hearing both sides from you and Jon.As an out of state and instate investor and a loan officer who works with newbie investors and seasoned pro's who operate in many businesses (flips, new construction, Multi and single family, etc), I will have to agree more to your side because most people I've encountered do not do the due dilligence necessary or usually have the capital necessary to make small mistakes while learning from each one enough with out risking their own bankruptcy.I see many in state investors in CA (Los angeles and Orange county, and San diego county) buy properties that are not even positive income on day 1 and this is assuming no property mgmt, capx, and or repairs. 

Which is why fashion mags advertise perfumes and colognes with scratch 'n sniff stickers!

With the amount of money at stake here I would definitely sit down with your partner and write out exactly how each of you thinks this will work, and how it will work if you encounter problem A or problem B. 

You will encounter a major problem with tenant turn over if you attempt to have a no smoking policy with only one of 4 units.