>This is difference is clearly documented in chapters JLS 12.1 (initial class) and JLS 12.2 (other classes).
There is no difference.
12.1.1 clearly reads: "This loading process is described further in §12.2."
Just in case, I've updated my gist:
https://gist.github.com/vlsi/aeeb4a61d9c2b67ad213, so you can see it
is reflection that makes the thing fail.
I thought it was obvious from the start: reflection has to represent
method arguments as Class somehow, so it fails as anyone would expect.
Vladimir
