Kevin, am starting to feel we're shooting the messenger.  The title companies bow to the wishes of the banking industry, plain and simple. 

Also wanted to ask you why this isn't considered creating (an illegal) monopoly, requiring abstractors to attach to a commercial title company, vs to an attorney - if the concern truly is legal standard?

The banking industry was the muscle behind allowing notary closings in NC, and our state bar association caved even though they fully disagreed.  That's power.