I really didn't have reporting and rotating in mind, Mick.
I'll let you in on a little secret, though. I worked with a guy a few weeks ago in a 3-whistle HS game who wanted to go tableside cause he calls 90% college games. We did it as a crew the entire game. I loved it, BTW. I work with some guys who don't want to "long switch" in a 2-whistle game or who want to stay in position if the trail calls a foul in the frontcourt rather than complete an awkward switch after reporting. I do whatever my partner wants to do unless he defers to me. Then we go by the book as I think it is EASIER to do things by the book than to remember crew-specific exceptions. Not better, just easier.
So be it -- I am flexible enough to do whatever my partner wants. Last thing I want is to have an argument with a partner who wants to do things a different way.
My favorite partner? The guy that switches on every foul.
Baseball is no different, Mick -- we pregame before every game so I know what mechanics differences there are between us. Most of us work strictly pro mechanics in baseball (HS and college games -- although I've ordered the CCA Manual for baseball so I know what they want in case my conferences work those mechanics). There is no such stigma on baseball officials as there seems to be coming from the basketball officials.
Here's a question for the baseball umpires: In a HS game, who covers third base on a bases empty triple? Now look in the NFHS manual for what they have to say. But nobody in baseball is so anal about FED mechanics.
I was reading the incresingly irrelevant Referee magazine a few months ago where their basketball article spent a long time talking about how using college mechanics (or non-approved mechanics) signifies a bad attitude. In the next breath, Referee suggests that the trail official (in 2-whistle) cover the sideline opposite above the FT line extended because that area is in the official's primary. Many officials use this in WI (imagine that), and I think the coverage is idiotic. If we're going to do that, then the trail should have the baseline over to the near lane line since that area is in the trail's primary as well. But I adapt.
And yes, I would get annoyed at BB umpires working SB mechanics -- pretty hard to call the game from behind the diamond
Rich