Awacoff,
The reason you're told to get your ripcord pulled once clear of the airplane isn't that terminal openings will damage a round canopy. Round canopies are certified to the same standard that squares are, and must be capable of openings to the same speeds with the same loads. The stresses on the canopy apex are considerably more concentrated than any single point on a ram-air, and rounds have been known to burst.
However, fear of rounds and such issues come from people who don't know anything about them. Those of us who learned to jump on rounds, then PC's and then squares (ram air canopies) don't have any problem with. I learned to freefall under round canopies, and thought that Paracommanders were the cats meow when I moved to them. My only unintentional reserve ride was a round at terminal velocity. Not a big deal.
You're instructed to pull when you clear because you do NOT want to try to get stable and waste precious altitude. If you are an experienced skydiver and can handle flying clear of the bailout before pulling, that's one thing. Pilots using emergency rigs are generally told to clear and pull, period. It's a dummy exercise that keeps you from thinking too much and doing something stupid, like waiting until impact.
The parachute isn't required because of access to an open door; seatbelts take care of that. An emergency parachute is for emergencies. A reserve container open in the airplane, or a main container in some cases, is an emergency, regardless of weather it gets out the door. This is VERY serious, and if that reserve does get out the door and the jumper isn't pushed out right after it, the airplane is most likely raining down in pieces. You'll have access to an open door then; the whole airplane will be open, and it won't be flyable. Many potential scenarios can occur, like the recent midair collision between the Golden Knights Pilatus and a 182, to the loss of a Caravan in Australia when a reserve canopy opened, last month.
Joseph II, opening or letting a pilot chute get away on the step isn't a big issue if the person falls clear. Letting the canopy out inside the airplane is a very big deal, however.
You're not bound to lose an engine if you fly skydivers. Any more than bound to lose an engine doing something else. I've had engine failures with skydivers. I've also had them flight instructing, flying 135, fighting fires, and doing a number of other things. It happens. Several jump pilots have told me about having the keys pulled from the ignition by a jumper just prior to making a diving exit...and landing without power. I've never seen it or experienced it, though I can't imagine it being a big deal.
On this very board last year some fool replied to a thread on that subject and said that if a jumper ever did that to him, he'd crash the airplane in a nearby field to let the drop zone owner know how he felt about such actions. A surprising number of pilots expressed concern about having to make a power off landing after losing an engine in this manner from 10,000' over a hard surfaced runway. To those that are frightened of making such a landing, or who would intentionally land in the hay to make a point, I sincerely hope I never get saddled in the same cockpit with ya. Most pilots aren't that way, fortunately, and can take such things in the spirit they're intended. Fun. That's what it's all about.
If you're not prepared to deal with skydivers hanging by their toes from the leading edge of the airplane, pumpkin jumps, flying surfboards, stolen keys, and making a few skydives yourself, then stay away from the DZ. You'll only make it unpleasant for everyone else. If instead you enjoy hanging out with a great crowd, having a lot of fun, and generally having a good time, then head for the closest DZ, because you're always welcome!
