2) Stop saying this! It is not "levels in a spellcasting class" It's "[1/2] your level (No s) in any spellcasting classes."
Just so. If I have six levels of wizard, four levels of master specialist, and one level of Ur Priest, though, what is "1/2 my level in any spellcasting classes?" Of those three classes, two are (according to precedent and ruling) spellcasting classes--Wizard and Ur Priest. My Ur Priest caster level would thus, by a strict reading, be four--three for Wizard plus one for Ur Priest.
I don't disagree that this method results in relatively low caster levels for Ur Priest. I don't disagree that it's logical to use caster level. I don't disagree that it works well in most cases (though the exceptions are doozies.)
I simply disagree that it's the canon interpretation, given all of the points against it.
I simply disagree that it's