Advancement isn't a random term. Its a stat block entry with specific use.
That's not correct. Advancement can also mean the use of Templates, which are not listed in the stat block entry of any creature.
The stat block entry is only an example, not an exhaustive or exclusive enumeration.
And, as a direct contradiction of your point, there are creatures which have a stat block Advancement in hit dice, and then have another stat block which is an example advanced by character class. In fact the first monster in the SRD is like this:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/aboleth.htmTherefore, the stat line is never intended to be exclusive.
Insisting otherwise is why people treat CO as a bunch of munchkins. Because that is some serious Munchkin garbage.
Hey, my assertion is that "
True" is poorly defined, and I'm correct. It is poorly defined.
It can be interpreted in ways that are mostly sane and not horrible -- but those aren't the only available interpretations.
- - -
Anyway, with this much insight into the flaws of "
True", maybe that means it's my responsibility to write a robust definition. (Obviously this would exclude silly things like Dragonwrought Kobolds.)
Hmm.
True Dragons: A true dragon is a monster of the Dragon type which advances through 12 age categories, from Wyrmling to Great Wyrm. Each age category increases the true dragon's hit dice, and a true dragon's size category will also increase at least once as it advances.
- - -
There. That looks robust. Please try to break that.