I agree with you, but I don't think you should consider the act of using multiple identities itself to be lying. Or at least, calling it that seems harsh. Do actors lie when they use stage names? Are authors lying when they publish under pen names?

Sure, some may use nicknames or professional names because they're more marketable. But others use pseudonyms for privacy protection. They want to compartmentalize their own identity, and I consider that a perfectly valid purpose.

Sure it's valid.. and in the US, if I'm not mistaken, it's expressly legal to call yourself whatever you want - as long as you aren't doing so to commit a crime.

So during day to day business and life, you can call yourself whatever you want. Others can insist on identification if it's important to them, and that gets trickier.. but using a pen-name on a book or a hotel reservation is no different than using a fake name at starbucks while waiting for your coffee.

Forging documents is of course illegal, so that puts a crimp on things - but there is no particular reason that you are required to use your "real" name except when dealing with government documents (and things that rely on them)

Those are both examples where you would heavily expect suspension of disbelief so I don't think they're analogous to the purpose the OP is asking about. You're not testing your skills against people, you're testing them for people.

Not really that easy

The technically safest advice is "don't talk to the police": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

The SCOTUS just ruled that that doesn't work anymore.

You're mistaken, the SCOTUS ruled that in order to invoke your right to not self incriminate, you must state directly that your are invoking the 5th amendment only in VOLUNTARY conversations.

So when you are being detained, it is as it was before?

What do you mean ... after all what do you always ask right after a client says "it doesn't work"?

Note that lying to a federal investigator, even when you don't even realize it or realize that it has any bearing on anything, is a crime (in the US). It's inadvisable to lie to the police, FBI, etc.

Solomon L. Wisenberg sounds like an alias, lol.

which is why you never talk to the police, or the Feds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc Can't post this often enough, because it takes a lawyer to explain that even if you're "innocent" (scare quotes, ha ha), you're in danger

"... just remember, it's not a lie if you believe it" might come handy too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB8TCRUd9rA