Its even murkier than that....

If a support bears down on a +y lets say 650n with the Sustained case of W+P but during one of its OPE cases it bears 640n what happen to the delta?

You have to ask the question what will the long term effects be of the load re-distribution....

Unfortunately if you read the original query of this thread.... "Has there been a change in the way Caesar handles the lifted up supports in determination of the sustained stresses?"

It seems that a simple yes/no automated approach to this difficult topic is desired.

If it is feasible to do so eliminating lift-off / load redistribution is the most straight forward way of taking care of this complex issue.

Oh and by the by I'm an ex-punch card dynaflex/mare island guy!

Life is complex at times.... thinking is always a good thing!