For simplicity’s sake as I’m still getting used to AS3, I’m not extending UIComponent. So, to use what you’ve cooked up here I created an Invalidator class which extends shape (can’t extend DisplayObject).

The constructor looks like this: Invalidator(dispatcher:DisplayObject = null)

So, to use with Display Objects:
new Invalidator(this)

To use with DisplayObjectContiners:
var i:Invalidator = new Invalidator();
addChild(i);

Have any thoughts about the pros / cons with this approach?

Thanks again!

They really need to fix this. I’ve been trying to build components that can live side by side with Adobe’s from Flash CS3 or anyone else’s. I can’t use Event.RENDER at all because it would mean I’d have to write my code to account for drawNow(), when I want it to be generic as possible. What happens when another component set comes along that uses Event.RENDER. That’s right, I need to learn what they do instead of drawNow() and throw that into my code too. It becomes an obvious mess:

if(FlashCS3)
{
component.drawNow();
}
else if(SuperCoolComponents)
{
component.superCoolDrawNow();
}

Ugh.