good theory, didn't seem to make a difference. i tried a few more sane combinations of stuff.

you would figure connecting the battery with 'key in ignition' and 'vats resistance correct' would be okay, and then IGN.

if things like 'connect battery with key already inserted' caused a no start condition there would probably be a recall.

another thing that bothers me is that this is a diagnostic bus, the theory that it would be in an unusable state because the state of every sensor and pin not being perfect doesn't make sense from a design standpoint. how would a diagnostic technician be able to figure out, for example, that the 'key in ignition' switch had failed without the ALDL being useable? there's no way GM would say 'until the vehicle is perfect you get no diagnostic information'. that's like saying 'it's illegal to visit a doctor until you are in perfect health'.