> However, if you try 
> to compile for ARMv3 there are no instructions that can directly access a 
> 16-bit quantity.

Yes, that's the point, which is not widely known for the world.  It's the
instruction set definition mistake and in practice has be hazardous and will
continue to be forever.  What I did was to point out a common pitfall and
"beware PLS compiler flags since none can tell which the default was taken." 

Toru Nishimura/ALKYL Technology