"The only other weird rule is you can't play cards onto your pounce pile. It's not in your best interests anyway."

Some variations of Pounce--notably in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota--do not include this rule.
The Upper Midwest Pounce Players Association (UMPPA) does not include this rule under the logic that playing cards on your pounce pile is sometimes in your best interests, sometimes not, and often what you think is/isn't in your best interest is actually the opposite--which only adds to the excitement of a game of Pounce.
Amy Jordan
Founder, UMPPA