>>Second, there is the problem that your RLOCK is being limited to 10 attempts (of either 2 tries or 2 seconds each). a SAFER, simpler coding would be:
>>DO WHILE NOT RLOCK()
>>ENDDO
>
>This is cut in stone, but it might lock you're app forever...
>

Check out the command Set Reprocess AND Set Lock

It sounds as if you may have Set Reprocess To 10
as a default on your system.

Be carefull about setting Set Reprocess To -1 or the user won't be able to do anything until the records becomes available.