Insignias: Questions About Certain "States" of Use

This question may be answered; unfortunately, I'm afraid that I've not found the answer through searches on these forums or the GuildWiki, and I should ask in this forum? It doesn't seem like a "basic" question, but I don't see a "technical discussion" forum, although it seemed like one should be under the Hall of Knowledge? Anyways, I was curious about several insignias that seem either very useable or entirely trash, and it may be that I don't understand the language.

Brawler's / Nightstalker's : While Attacking

I'm not sure if "While Attacking" covers only the attack animation; for most of the professions, that animation is about one second long, and the refresh time for an axe / sword warrior or assassin is .33 seconds, I think? Does that mean that you don't receive a bonus for 25% of the time that you're in combat, and that you receive absolutely no bonus when you first engage a group or if you have to chase unsnared enemies? It also doesn't include the use of non-attack skills with activation times? Heck, does it even include attack skills?

Scout's : While Using A Preparation

I would expect "while affected by a preparation" or "while activating a preparation," but I don't see either. Does this insignia encompass one or both of these states?

Thanks in advance.

While attacking applies to you while you are attacking

So you select an enemy and hit attack. Until you stop or run away, you will be under that effect. It includes attack skills as well.

EDIT: Dunno about the preparation ones. But I don't use them at all.

Thanks for the response. Just to clarify: "while attacking" includes the attack animation, animation breaks, engaging and chasing after a target, and using attack skills?

I'm not sure if chasing is, but the rest is.

Basically, while your character is locked on a target and does stuff to it xD

While using a preparation means that, so long as the icon for your preparation is showing on your screen, you get the bonus

Correct. The preperation insignia works very similar to the "while enchanted" insignia. as long as it is active, you recieve the bonus.

The brawlers insignia is a little more tricky though. While running to a target to attack it, even if you have a skill que'd, you do not recieve the +armor. While in the targets face and attacking, you recieve the +armor. The moment you stop attacking and use a self targeted skill, or turn to run, you lose the armor bonus.