The new FAQ update was released today (July 2nd) and puts to rest the issues of Sage Advice and Character Tiers in Hardcover Encounters, in addition to a few minor clarifications.
Sage Advice: is not an official rules source for AL, but is allowed.
Encounters: No strict tiers are enforced for the hardcover adventures.
While not specifically stated (yet): The Encounters PDF documents (DDEN1 Hoard of the Dragon Queen, DDEN2 Princes of the Apocalypse, etc) are specifically restricted to tier 1 characters (as stated in the preamble for those adventures).
Anyone playing those adventures are still restricted to Tier 1 characters even though characters playing in the hardcover are not similarly restricted.
I have asked if the FAQ update could be amended to clarify that the FAQ entry only applies to the hardcover versions of these adventures, and that the PDF docs are tier-restricted (much like Expeditions).
So to quote some fairly well known british band..
With no alarms and no surprises...
Moving on 
/salt
Just creating a larger headache for me as I try to reign DMs in.
Ravix wrote: