> You only link against the release version... this I guess is why validation of parameters is done via exceptions.

That's a very good point. Since we're an open source library, I imagine most devs will prefer to get and compile the source themselves, but as MonoGame becomes more stable, people may increasingly use the installed binaries only.

I'd still prefer not to check incorrect parameters in RELEASE builds, but since we're aiming for Xna parity, I'm happy to concede this one if others prefer the extra safety.