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> As the post explains, the Reliable and Safe bit are really handled by the car, not the charger.

Not all of it; the whole point of having a controller on the wall box is that there's mains power in the cable only while it's plugged into a vehicle (and that this power is removed immediately if the cable is pulled out from the vehicle, which could help prevent arcing on the contacts if it happens while charging).

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My understanding of the system is that the plug is physically locked in the charge socket while the car is drawing current through the cable. Thus it is impossible for there to be arcing at disconnect.

With the Type 2 cables(common in Europe) - yes, they lock in. Type 1 cables(common in US and few other places) they don't lock in place, you can remove it even when it's charging.

Sort of. There is a micro switch that breaks the proximity pilot signal when you press the button to release the latch. That ends up cutting the power to the main pins before you unplug the cable.

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