Maybe I was envisioning the initial post differently than the majority, but I don't believe the player in question ran EIGHT yards after stepping out of bounds in that sitch. I agree with you that in the dramatization you posted, the player who stepped out and came back would be flagged.
I was probably too short in my posts as well. Ah well - new job, extra busy, shouldn't be on line trying to stay up to date here anyway...
I envisioned a player standing near the sideline turning, stepping out of bounds with one foot, jumping up, and catching it in the same position. Incomplete. (And here's where I was too short). If instead you meant an inbounds player barely touching out of bounds while turning, while the ball is coming to him, jumping, and landing in bounds, I probably have a complete pass. This is based solely on what I've heard at a clinic, regarding the intent of the rules. As it was explained, the intent of this rule is to keep players from going out of bounds (where a defender should know he no longer has to guard him), and coming back to catch a pass.
I will, however, discuss this with some of the more experienced guys I get to work with next week, and will repost if I misunderstood the clinic, or am told the clinic was misguiding me in this situation.