I actually got out of a switching once. I was 4, (mom tells this story a lot, still) and she sent me for a switch. I came back with an assortment of terrible things and said 'choose your weapon'. She let me off. It didn't work again.
I came back with an assortment of terrible things and said 'choose your weapon'. She let me off. It didn't work again. Hmmm ... never thought of using that one. I tried the "I Love You" gambit once, didn't work. I tried cute, defiant, scared-out-of-my-mind, and brave forebearance. I still got blistered (especially for the incident with the pocket knife and the brand-new leather sofa). Mom was VERY single-minded in that regard.