Daiku, thanks for the detailed diagrams!
Down here in the lowcountry timberframing is not very prevalent. granted the buildings from the past have them but are covered with plaster and yet they still stand.... my thinking is that timberframe construction is overwhelming more stable in hurricanes than stud built due to bracing and the fact it is craftsman built. If somehow, testing could be done by reliable sources dealing with hurricane force winds testing timberframe vs. stud built and the results disclosed then the insurance companies would be happier with this type of construction and therefore would want to promote it with less expensive home insurance rates (pretty expensive around here on the coast). The next problem to tackle would be the connection of the timberframe to the foundation to withstand storm surge and wind uplift from hurricanes..... then you could all come timberframe here in sweet sunny south.
