This is really helpful and I share your views on the playback not being the best place to fix something, but as a place to open up design challenges.

One further reason why I wouldn't recommend solutionising within recommendations is that there is sometimes a very specific reason that something has been designed in that way, and it might not be able to be changed. This may be because of business priorities, or previous insight that has led to the current design. That's not to say we shouldn't take the user insight on board, but giving direct instructions like "move this here" can be futile for the researcher, and a bit frustrating for the designer as we know it can't be done that way, and we know why.

That problem only comes up when the UR is detached from the design team though, and they don't understand the full context or history. When we are all part of one R&D team it goes much smoother - but unfortunately that's not always possible!

Anyway, great blog :)