Rolex warranty: difference b/n TRF, AD, online dealer

[MCLady]

Okay, I'm super close now to purchasing a watch.

There was a great thread back in 2010 about online purchase locations and some great threads of TRFs to purchase from.

Why I'd purchase online or from TRF? WA state has 10% tax, if I'm going to spend my hard earned pennies, I want to keep as many as possible too. The local AD is stuck with new March 2011 Rolex rates plus taxes. I'd love to buy from them but it would cost me an extra grand.

Now my questions:
(1) Warranty. Most of the online places indirectly indicate Rolex might not cover warranty if I don't purchase from an AD. Is this true?

(2) What about newer models, like 178344 (wro) from TRF? Oscar, David and
others seem to sell a lot of (what I'll call) standard "wanted" models. How are they with 2011 models? I don't want to pit one against the other, so does one handle newer inventory better?? How to choose when they all seem very reliable.

Thanks in advance!
Aliya