On the sign reading point. IMO reading Mcdonalds and Coke may not be reading, but being able to apply those written words elsewhere 'Old Mcdonald' for instance, and seeing the word 'joke' and 'getting that it's like 'coke' is. Gifted readers do this, not because it is pointed out to them, but because words appeal to them. This is just based on my experience with DS now 9.

p.s. Translation of smart - American to English = clever.

I'm going to leave the hothousing issue ... back to you guys:-)