So, I know that people have posted pinky excercises in the past, so I'm not necessarily looking for those, unless you want to post 'em anyway.

But do you HAVE to use the pinky/ring combo for trills? I mean, does really nobody use their pointer and middle? That just seems so much EASIER...

pinky-3 frets from index
ring-2 frets from index
midddle-1 fret from index
\
that is how PERIOD

I know what you mean. But that is why they call them excersizes. JUST incase you need to use it. In some cases it is easier to use that combo. You may need to use your index to sustain one note while you are trilling another with your ring/pinky. You never know with music. And it just builds strength. Really helps with a series of pullofs. Suffocation and Vile style solos and whatnot.

I would never use the ring and pinky for a trill. For exercises, ya sure. Sometimes for a quick hammer-on/pull-off combo, but never for a trill.

Exactly. Trill exercises using you pinkly are practice for playing longer legato phrases where you definitely need to use it.

What newbs you can trill with any combination of frets (provided they all go in ascending order, and depending on how large your hands are) .

what the hell does that mean?