Chip, we've experienced such conflicts in the past when running IT cars in STU (and prior to that, DP). These conflicts were easily resolved by just taking a moment and explaining to to the tech guys (of which I happen to be one).

Letting a pseudo-IT car run without a fire system is a technical violation, but I don't see it as a spirit-of-the-rules violation, nor a safety hazard (if it's good enough the goose...) I'll make a point of pointing out these issues to Tech as I can; it wouldn't hurt if others did the same.

GA