Spelling? I don't need no stinking spelling!
Another thought regarding registered companions in the 'Verse: it is interesting to me that Mal doesn't seem to share the high regard for companions. I've thought that perhaps this comes from the dual origins of the Alliance. The Alliance is supposed to be an, er, alliance, between the U.S. and China. The companion tradition in Firefly would seem to come from the oriental side of things. Mal comes from the American side, and has an attitude towards it that reflects that.