OOBE Avatar Problem

[Russ Kinter]

First the problem:
The OOBE -or "Ghost mode " as it exists in the current Deep Matrix is where the user's avatar simply stops and the user seperates from it so that his/her position is no longer given to the network -like an astronaut leaving a space capsule.
Now that I am giving adopting the use of AvatarStudio2 avatars that are converted to H-Anim standard, I am looking at how other MU systems let users view their OWN avatars.
The most common OOBE (view my avatar) seems to be to have the avatar as a terrain following HUD -in other words the avatar geometry realistically follows the rising and falling of the ground as the user moves.

Trying to implement this feature in InstantPlayer doesn't seem possible.
Looking at and trying out their extensive collection of proprietary nodes:

http://www.instantreality.org/documentation/nodetype/

The only thing I can find is the Viewspace Node which only gives a plain old HUD with geometry that won't follow a rising and falling ground.

Now the possible solutions:

Is it a good idea to try to duplicate the "view my avatar" of abnet, blaxxun communities ect
as a plain old HUD that would result in the avatar geometry floating in mid air on descending
terrain and partially buried on ascending terrain?
Personally I think that is not a good idea, but am putting this out for opinions/suggestions.
I also could have a OOBE ghost option that could do any number of things:
1. Randomly do gestures at random times
2. A "Pace" ghost where the user's avatar would walk/pace in a circle/line and/or square.
These two animation ideas are of course meant to be seen by other users over the network.

So I am asking for opinions/suggestions on this.
What do you folks think?

Thanks!
Russ

[fabricator]

Yes its a sticky problem, without a proper 3d person mode, the only way is to use rayhit to place the avatar at the correct height.

ps: for those wondering what Russ is talking about.
OOBE = Out Of Body Experience