we were very simply giving Louis instructions that Registrars can't deny a domain transfer for a name that has expired,
...but Registrars can cancel the registration at any time during the auto-renew grace period: 3.7.5 At the conclusion of the registration period, failure by or on behalf of the Registered Name Holder to consent that the registration be renewed within the time specified in a second notice or reminder shall, in the absence of extenuating circumstances, result in cancellation of the registration by the end of the auto-renew grace period (although Registrar may choose to cancel the name earlier). Requiring transfer while permitting cancellation seems inconsistent. I thought the deletes policy was pretty clear, too, until everyone contracted around it....