Too many ifs, and/or too many restrictions, Smitty! I'll just go on with L visas. That doesn't mean you can't get a job, but it does mean you can pull a runner, and you can forego medicals, if you're 'adventurous enough!
What you didn't mention so that we can contrast the laws for foreigners here compared to those for Chinese in the West is that a foreign spouse in the West can change nationality after 2 years of continuous residency, no need for all the rigmarole you mention, imo. Nough said, you've got my gist.
Strange that a developing country has so many prohibitive rules! But this is China!