use of body-start() outside lists

The XSL spec says [1]:

  Function: numeric body-start() 

     The body-start function returns the calculated body-start
     value for lists. See the definition in [7.28.4
     "provisional-distance-between-starts"].

     NOTE: 

     When this function is used outside of a list, it still
     returns a calculated value as specified.

However, the defn at [2] says:

     body-start() = the value of the start-indent + start-intrusion-adjustment
     + the value of the provisional-distance-between-starts of the
     closest ancestor fo:list-block.

If the defn of body-start() refers to the value of the 
provisional-distance-between-starts of the closest ancestor 
fo:list-block, then how could it "still return a calculated 
value as specified" when used outside of a list?  And what 
is the point of doing such?

It seems to me that the NOTE in [1] should be deleted.

paul


[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/xsl/slice5.html#section-N8624-Property-Value-Functions
[2] http://www.w3.org/TR/xsl/slice7.html#provisional-distance-between-starts