Thanks! That's quite kind. Just glad to know someone found it useful.
The DEADLINE with an intermediary step would be cool. The only thing I could think of that might make something like that work is if you might create a "subtask" that had the DEADLINE and then follow that and resolve before the actual top level task got resolved, though being a relative newcomer to org-mode, I have absolutely not a clue how you'd do accomplish that (sorry). I'm sure there is probably a better way. =]
Rather than using a note, btw, I've found it much more useful to signify delegatee with a tag (so, something like :jones:). The advantage is when you have a meeting with someone or need to refer to their stuff, just sort all tasks/todos by tag :jones" and you know everything Jones is on the hook for. I also generally keep a file for someone - usually to organize 1:1 notes and similar and use a setup like:
``` elisp
#+TITLE: Jones
* Jones :jones:loka:
** Jones 1:1 - 2019-05-03
*** Team Structure and Leads shifts
*** PMS reviews
*** Martech
...
```
Also very handy if you put the TODOs inline with the 1:1 notes as they'll still be tagged to find them from the personnel buffer.
Anyhow, YMMV but that has worked surprisingly well though it does not solve your *actual* intermediary/delegated DEADLINE step. Sorry. =]
ciao!
Daryl.