You have given considerable, very impressive analytical thought to the issues. We do not believe in specific models for negotiating specific kinds of issues. Each negotiation depends on a variety of issues, so that even a problem arising from weather delays, for example, may be amenable to a multiplicity of different approaches depending on the contract, who the parties are, the nature of the parties' relationship, the extent to which deadlines or timely performance is a central issue, etc. It is dangerous to assume that all 'weather delay' issues can only be approached from a single angle. In English, an early lesson one needs to learn is that when we assume, we risk making an 'ass of u and me'.
Negotiation is quite different from flying an airplane.
A pilot must go through a precise pre-flight process before taking off. There is no room for varying that process. A good negotiator, on the other hand, understands that the process involves a continuous series of choices as to strategy and tactics. Being locked into one strategy or set of tactics to implement that strategy weakens a negotiator's capacity to reach wise solutions in an efficient manner. Good luck and good negotiating, Steve.