The GCR is mute on that point. It thus becomes a subjective opinion, primarily based on the inspector's experience and expectations.

If I see stitch welding, I would not automatically reject it, but I would give it more-detailed inspection. I recognize that those pads are there not for tension or shear but for compression, so my decision will be subjective based on if I think the pad would retain its attachment in an incident, compared to how strong I "think" the point is that it attaches to.

I would be far more hard-ass on stitch welding if that pad was in a lot of shear versus primarily in compression (e.g., most of its attachment was on a vertical rocker surface).

But in the end, there is no regulatory requirement...

GA