Well, checking auto-commit is not the only reason we acquire the Connection. The user has asked to begin a txn ("right after the Transaction has started") which for RESOURCE_LOCAL transactions means managing the txn via the Connection.

IMO this is just another possible option that the user can use to unwittingly royally screw themselves.

BTW, we have never claimed that the acquiring the Connection is delayed until the first Statement is created. We delay accessing it until the Connection is needed; the Connection here is needed to start the txn (or to see that the Connection is auto commit and not physically start the txn).