The 10% penalty exception actually allows you to terminate when you are age 54 as long as the year that you separate contains the 55th anniversary of your date of birth.
Example: You terminate February 2013 and are paid out. You reach age 55 in October 2013. No 10% penalty.
Also, for payouts after 8-17-2006, there's is another exception at age 50 for payouts from a DB plan for qualified public safety employees.
I believe the student once went into a confectionary and asked the proprietor how much did the candy stitting atop the counter in glass jars cost. The proprietor told the student, "You can have all you want for a dollar." The student thought a moment and then siad, "I'll take two dollars' worth."