Duh?? Of course, ultimate wind resistance is not contingent upon frame stiffness...just as frame stiffness has absolutely no relevance to my original question posed to this forum.

Chris/Brian, your replies provide PERFECT illustration of my problem with engineers. I mentioned deflection limits only as a means of showing a local engineer's inability to comprehend and provide relevant information. To this I receive a reply providing info on story drift in skyscrapers. So I explain about deflection limits and receive an opinion that a stiff building will still fail in a hurricane. I do appreciate that bit of wisdom, but it doesn't require a rocket scientist (or a structural engineer) to figure that one out. I'm well aware of factors that make buildings fail but that isn't my concern here. I guess I have my answer. Thanks anyway, guys.
Don