Darrin, I have never done a winch course, but maybe a LANTRA course run for telecom/local authority type drivers might be cheaper and better than the recreational type LR experience/Vince something type courses?

And yes I suppose it would be best to remove tie down points if fitting recovery points... but otherwise leave them be (gentle winching/towing will likely be fine). To be honest I have subjected Toyota and Nissan "non rated" points or "pig tails" to some pretty large forces. LR ones too - a CAT D7 can pull pretty hard. Okay serious jerking or snatching I would not want to be near. I have also narrowly avoided serious injury while spooling wire back onto the drum - gloves and a hook holder are needed, which I learned the hard way a few times. The winch installation also needs some care and it is generally also recomended to fit a manual disconnect switch between the winch and batteries in case of solenoids sticking while winching resulting in the winch not stopping! I have never seen this with a winch but I have with an overhead electric crane (think BIG winch) and it was interesting...

The best thing about vehicle recovery I have learned (and subsequently read) is to sit back (tea, fag whatever) and calmy think and plan all your intentions as logically as possible. The natural reaction is to hurry and get out of the situation as fast as possible - don't! Plan and anticipate what can go wrong... Then start. I learn't this from 13 years improvising recovery of dozers etc. I am no professional or military tank recovery type but I have learnt a bit from trial and error - 3 days to get a disabled 30 ton Dozer out of a river was a memorable one. There is a very good, tiny book with some very good 4x4 recovery techniques but for the life of me I cannot remember it's name!

BTW this Vince chap can't be all bad if he did CD's UJ for FOC!