I thought the 800 hours WAS the meeting in the middle... between 250 and 1500. As I understood if the FAA doesn't set standards for the 800 hours then it automatically becomes atp with 1500 hrs in a year.
Back when i was in school there was a study i read that pilots with 800 - 1000 hrs were considerably more dangerous than other groups. Trying to dig it up but i'm on the road. I think it was relating to getting a lil experience and then over confidence sets in. If i remember correctly it was in relation to single pilot operations (not entirely valid here because of 135 IFR PIC req.) but nonetheless....
That's why the 800hr comment.
Oh and Dashdriver, Glad your keeping track! Its all a bit of a mess.