I understand you not wanting to waste your time digging through pubs, and appreciate you sharing your experience.
I have 5 rental properties in my name, 300k coverage and a 1 million umbrella, those are all in my name.
I also have an LLC (Really a partnership) with a partner, which has more rentals. We formed the LCC for that because it gave us a lawyer familiar with partnership paperwork. Also because we have no intention of piercing that LLC's veil. All work is done by professionals, management is performed by others, books are kept completely separate from personal finances, etc. In my state (NY) you can of course sue and win for anything, but this just adds a level of difficulty at getting to my personal assets, or rather my personal insurance protection.
I do see the importance of an LLC at time, but for the rental properties in my name, I would pierce that veil daily making it not just a disregarded entity by the IRS but also by the courts 😉
As a side question to your last comment, this is my first year with the partnership and the LLC. I think we will have to still do K-1s for the LLC?
