most of the functions handled in |nsAFlat[C]String| are predicated on the notion that buffer handles work and the string pointed to uses them. This is not the case when pointing at a rickg string. More forwarding is required.

- protected: +// protected: + public: You obviously (?) want to make this protected, but can't: can you add a comment as to why it a) should be protected, and b) isn't? Man, am I ever not going to miss obsolete/nsString. sr=shaver, if you add that comment.

r=dbaron. Using char_type in some places and the real char type in others seems a bit weird, and also making GetWritableFragment public doesn't seem necessary at the moment, but since both are in flux right now I don't think either is a problem...

fix checked in ... btw, we'll be eliminating |char_type| and similar constructs (only present to make copy/paste editing easier), since people have told me that seeing the native types makes it easier to read