Helpful,
WADR to R. Chaim, he is not the be-all and end-all in halacha. He is certainly entitled to his opinion and, if you want to follow him, you have a solid basis on which to do so — but that does not mean that his word is the end of the matter.
Yesterday, I lained in shul, twice, without hat or jacket. My rav, no slouch he, said not one word about it, nor has he said a word to me about it any other time that I lained without hat and/or jacket. If it was so clear-cut that it’s assur, then he would have certainly said something.
The Wolf