Is it ok to add extra joints to make painting skin weights easier?
 

My elephants skin wights are a long way off what I want and it feels like its taking ages to sort them. SO I had an idea, is it ok to add joints (that I never intend on rotating) to the skeleton, just to make painting weights a lot easier?

yes.

i dont see a reason why you cant

Ok, thanks, that will make my life a lot easier :)