Can the Patriot with the off-road transfer case, etc. (Freedom II ??) be towed 4 down behind a motorhome as easily as my 1999 Cherokee Sport -- towable at all?

I don't know... my guess would be that it would. I am in no way 'in the loop' nor do I have any insider info... just pure guess...

I don't know... it might not with the CVT. A manual trans might be able to be towable. If the Compass is not able to be towable the Patriot might not either.

A call to Jeep customer service phone line once produced a, "No, it can not be towed because there is no N in transfer case -- just like the Compass." A second call a few days later, clarifying that the scenario was Patriot with auto tranny and Freedom II transfer case (with consultation with a supervisor in the background, produced an emphatic, "Yes, it is towable?" Do we have any reason to trust the customer service staff? Is the best 2 out of 3 the way to go?
motorhometow?

I'm going to go with a no.

The FDII is the same CVT with different programming to provide a "low" range and hill descent features.

It appears that the Jatco transmission has a fluid coupling in it:

http://www.jatco.co.jp/ENGLISH/PRODUCTS/CVT_IMAGES/DL/JF011E_H.jpg

The problem is that you cannot uncouple the drivetrain and the transmission. If you tow it, the output shaft is creating heat inside the transmission. Fluid is not circulated properly for cooling or lubrication and causes premature wear.

Get a trailer if you need to tow it! :D