Curious to know what makes a deal worth pulling permits vs cosmetic only?

If your contractor knows what they're doing and submit the permit correctly should be just a couple weeks (sometimes even sooner actually).

I am unaware of any actual friction in permitting in Louisville.

If the work appears permitted quality, the appraisers never check the permits in my market.  

A prospective buyer may contact the city to verify if it was permitted.

Repairing those things does not always require a permit.

What proof did the contractor show you for permits?

Once you get it permit-ready, you can get a construction loan, but construction loan lenders want to make sure you are qualified and can execute the project competently since construction has things go wrong a lot.  

I remember back when I started it was the wild west days in terms of permitting and listing a home!

It can tell you if building permits were pulled for remodeling, roofs, furnaces, etc.