light woods and LOS

[Hugmenot]

First, let me define the terms I used to ensure we're discussing the same cases.

Assume the higher unit is on a 40m hill hex.
A light woods hex on a 40m hill hex is at a HIGHER elevation as the higher unit (40m for the hill + 20m for the light woods = 60m).
A light woods hex on a 20m hill hex is at the SAME elevation as the higher unit.
A light woods hex on a ground level hex is at a LOWER elevation as the higher unit.

In your case (1), both light woods hexes being at a LOWER elevation than the higher unit does NOT block line of sight as 8.42 does not list any limiting terrain at lower elevation than the higher unit blocking line of sight. The line-of-sight would not be blocked even if the hexes were woods, heavy woods, towns instead of light woods.

As 8.42 does not list any terrain at lower elevation than the higher unit blocking line-of-sight, I ignore all terrain at lower elevation than the higher unit when determining if the line-of-sight is blocked. Your (2) thus become a single light woods hex at a higher elevation than the higher unit. There are only two cases if the higher unit is on a 40m hill hex: (2) the light woods is on a 40m hill hex in which case the line-of-sight is not blocked, and (2) the light woods is on a level 60m hill hex or above in which case the line-of-sight is blocked by the elevation line.

Personally, I would have added the concept of blind hexes if I had written the line-of-sight rules but I am not sure the extra complexity would be worth it.