Recently there was this problem with TControlBar, when both ControlBar and its child was Autosize=True and there was attempt to set child.Align to anything else than alNone or alCustom.
Current solution is to force all children to Align=alNone in each (overidden) Resize;.
I'll look in to the autosize property I haven't set it my self but I haven't checked the defaults either so you might have a point. Now that you mentioned the align property, if I remember correctly juha already commented in a thread about the coolbar that the alNone has the same "resize loop" problems and only alCustom does not create them but then again I might not remember correctly.
I need a TWincontrol based component that does not have any of the resize logic in it and I will build a brand new lcl based on it if I have to, thats how much annoyed I am at this point.
Thank you for the pointers.