> 
> If "recommendation" is something less than "policy-making" then does
> this necessarily get returned to the "policy makers" for another round 
> of "policy-making" that led to the result being reviewed?  What is the
> context of institutional flow here?

Those are the kind of questions puzzling me. 

> Its recommendations could easily be ignored if it has no authority to
> actually do anything about the policy.
> Does some other body have authority to act on the RT's recommendations?
> (If so, then that other body is what holds the power, and to the extent
> that the other body relies upon the RT's recommendations, it could give

Welcome to ICANN. Yes, the RTs can be ignored. That "other body" that needs to act is the Board. Everything else is "advisory." 
As usual, accountability in this institution amounts to nothing more than begging the board to accept recommendations.

--MM