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Aelia, thanks for the replies!  It was pretty much in line with what I thought but it's nice to have some confirmation.

Thanks for the replies!  

I have some questions about "brandishing" props.  (I know this seems kind of picky, but I want to make sure we don't spend lots of time and effort on a costume and get kicked out for violating some convention-center policy.)

If a character costume includes a weapon (i.e. the Getta Tomahauk), what would I be permitted to do with it?  I'll present some scenarios and you can tell me whether they would or wouldn't be allowed.

*I am posing for a photograph.  I hold the axe up over my head or pose with it in some other way beyond merely holding it.

*I am posing for a photograph.  With the photographer's consent, I point the axe toward the photographer in an aggressive posture, as though I were about to strike them with the axe.

*I am posing for a photograph with another cosplayer.  With their consent, I hold the axe toward them as though I were trying to strike them, and they hold up their own prop weapon to counter (or mimic blocking the attack in some other means, including dodging.)

*I am posing for a photograph with another cosplayer.  With their consent, I hold the axe against them as though I'd just struck them with it, and they pose so as to indicate that they've been hit.

*I am on the convention floor and another cosplayer asks me to pretend to fight them so their friend can take a video.

*I am in the cosplay contest with another cosplayer, and as part of our performance we pretend to fight.

Also:  For the "no visible skin" rule, would wearing flesh-colored tights/bodysuit be an acceptable solution?  Dancers and similar performers often wear these to give the appearance of bare skin without actually exposing anything.

I am planning to construct a Getter Robo costume made of posterboard segments worn or strapped over my clothes.  I will have a mask/helmet to represent the head.  The whole thing will probably end up looking like Tora's costume on this page, although with slightly larger shoulders (not extending beyond my own shoulders, though.)

*Would this costume be considered "limited visibility and/or movement" requiring a handler due to the construction?

*Would this costume be considered "limited visibility and/or movement" requiring a handler due to the mask?

*If the mask makes me need a handler, can I avoid that requirement by not wearing the mask unless being photographed?

*Actually, what about facemasks in general?  If a costume includes a facemask, is that inherently "limited visibility and/or movement"