hornett, I hear what you're saying about the value of experience. That cannot be denied. Nothing drives me crazier than a desk arborist pulling some opinion out of a book and misapplying it to tree work when it just does not fit. But tied with that is when a working arborist pulls a number out of what seems like thin air and misapplies it.
All the references I look at, as well as my experience, tell me that water expands 9%, yet you say that "water expands up to seven times when frozen.must not have any effect on trees. maybe in wisconsin they have trees that are impervious to water damage." First, your figure is 77 times higher than everyone else's, so I think you got some splainin to do. Second, using sarcasm when talking to Mr. Maas is like using your fingernails when fighting a tiger.
In the cases you describe, it sounds like there are many steps that can be taken to manage those trees without a basal cut. Maybe the marine grade silicone sealer is worth a try, maybe expandable foam. Both have been experimented with and discussed here--check the archives for deep discussions on filing cavities. There are also basic arboricultural steps, like pruning and cabling, that can help to hold trees together.
All it takes is one storm to knock a tree down, true. But all it takes is an open-minded arborist who balances facts from written references with field experience, working with nature to find ways to keep a tree standing. Why not take a picture of that tree and post it here?