After adding this as an answer, rather than a "related question" - I found that the related question option comes up when a qustion's answered. So... I made the following a related question also.
Would it be possible to have a profile added to your watchlist - maybe an R category, for requested? - when you ask to be added to the trusted list? That would have the added benefit that you'd be notified of activitiy (like if the profile manager starts managing again - you could re-request; or if the profile gets orphaned, you could then adopt it).
Just a thought... not sure what it would entail technically.
Cheers,
Liz