Intractable SME's

[geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA]

 I like the general tone of the answers so far ("talk to the
 intractable SME and see if he can see your viewpoint"),
 particularly since the best way to get around such problems
 is to gain enough credibility that the expert stops arguing
 and starts trusting you. Is it possible that this guy just
 wants to know how to do things right, so he doesn't have to
 redo them? (From context, this lacks the ring of truth: the
 arguments that occur _after_ you explain things make him
 sound a bit "I know better than you do". On the other hand,
 perhaps it's his boss that's the problem and the new guy is
 just passing along the message? Might be worth snooping
 around to find out.)

 The best solution to someone who thinks they know better is
 to ask him to send you a photocopy of some authority
 (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style) that supports his view.
 (aka the "put up or shut up" style of confrontation) Heck,
 he may even be right now and then! The solution of last
 resort? Tell him "sorry, even if I agreed with you, the
 corporate style guide says otherwise". You do have a style
 guide, don't you? <grin>

 --Geoff Hart     @8^{)}     geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
 Disclaimer: Speaking for myself, not FERIC.