>>> The only thing I'm having trouble understanding...is why
>>> Google's Help Forum "Top Contributors" are advising
>>> webmasters to avoid manipulating search engines at
>>> all costs--even if it means providing a worse User experience.

It's nothing but the easiest thing to do:

1. Use that technique of yours if you need it to speed up rendering, nothing against that ... >

2. > ... but at the same time don't block Googlebot from reading your javascript
(Otherwise, could you explain, please, how blocking of the javascript in robots.txt is related to the user-experience-issue you're suddenly so concerned about?)

-luzie-
*grinning again*