Dave - I see older homes all the time, many very historic, like early 1800's.  Often there is no floor drain.  Since the TPR seldom discharges, or when it does there is such little water, I have seen everything from brownie pans to hoses into buckets.  Neither really bothers me, so long as the buyer understands what is going on.  New codes around here are different - there must be a discharge location - but they don't grandfather.  What is your issue?  Is someone asking a question or trying to fix a problem?

so out the wall is not possible , I take it?

Yes, out the wall is possible but obviously would be uphill for the piping, (7'-8' basement wall) but that would still be better than flooded basement. I did not dwell on it, only mentioned why we point it out. While not very often, I have seen TPR valves open partially and not close completely. Yes I'm aware of the small condensate pumps, in fact theres one on the furnace right next to the HWH.     

Dave, if you have pics, feel free to attach them to your post so others can check them out

Can't top it unless I had time to think about it - we've all seen some weird stuff.  At least with the 50 amps the wiring is covered.*  The breakers won't get hot...!  I had a new home the other day where the kitchen light switch turned the fridge on and off.  You have to try real hard to do that.  For all I know, the "electrician" was Paco, of "zapped electrician" fame.  I had in my notes that there appeared to be a short in the fridge, odd for a new appliance, but it can happen.  Then, later, I turned on the light switch and heard the fridge turn on.  Serendipity!
* Home inspector joke, which the County guys never seem to appreciate....

Dees ees jhao wee duu een Neecaragwa, ok man dude?  Eet ok now, ok?  ˇAbrazos!

Now, if you could get him to do it in the pouring rain... well, at least he's up on the house, so he isn't grounded...*

*Another home inspector joke, which the County guys never seem to appreciate....

Dave - I lived in South America for 2 years.  Some of the things they do there are amazing.  They live with it.  Unfortunately, some of the things they do are really dangerous and not smart, to say the least.  They would heave a copper wire to hook over cables between light poles to steal power.  That bare wire would come into a bedroom window, was hot all the time, and they would rig it into some transformer in the house to use it for appliances or a jury-rigged outlet.  They had these small heaters for the shower, wired into one of those handled u-shaped devices that would lower into a sleeve to close the circuit and heat the water (old school).  It was exposed, right beside the shower and if water splashed on it, well, it splashed.  Children (!) used light-bulb sockets hanging from the ceiling to insert cables, taped in place, which they would connect directly to other things - a radio, fan, even a television.  An oven and a fridge would both be inserted, by the ends of improperly-sized, bare wires, into a 220 outlet on the wall, and used at the same time.  I saw this stuff all the time.  It is a way of life.  Your friend on the roof is just doing what he knows.  It is what it is.  My "zapped electrician" acquaintance was probably doing the same thing the next day, in the rain.  It is what it is.
      When I see odd electrical, it prints out as a very BOLD item on my report (the report on my website is a real inspection, bold items and all).  Bold, my report says, indicates a condition that is dangerous, unprofessional, expensive and/or can affect habitability.  There is a disclaimer which prints that says all BOLD items need to be checked by a qualified technician.
      I just this evening got an email from a client for whom I did an inspection last week.  She was not present, her mother was there.  At the inspection I noticed some weirdly replaced aluminum siding with a 1" hole in it.  There was what appeared to be an outline on the patio from a hot tub, but not recent.  In the panel box there was an unused hole from a previous, removed  breaker, and a large cable was still connected to the lugs.  The cable was cut, rolled up inside the box, and terminated with electrical tape.  This is a house, short sale, quickly put on the market to prevent foreclosure.  The seller spoke Spanish to his agent, not knowing that I was understanding.  He said some things he should not have said, about the hot tub and other things that were behind walls and such, saying that I would never find them.  The agent "translated" what was being said for the buyer's mother, explaining how the seller wanted everything in the house to be perfect for her daughter, and to please let him know what he could do for her.  Yes, he was lying, very smoothly, smile on his face.  I could have puked.  I deserve an Oscar for hot revealing how I wanted to remove his face...  My client was being totally set up.  This agent is worth his weight in navel lint, and I have been in touch with the local board about him.
     There is a much longer story, but this is a nub for your interest.  Bottom line - my client, a veterinarian in Massachusetts, emailed me to thank me profusely for my report.  The County is coming down on this house.  My client and myself are both protected by the BOLD on the report.  Unfortunately, I see houses like this, sold by people like this, three or four times a week.  It is a huge problem.  "Electricians" and "plumbers" and "HVAC specialists" and, and, and are everywhere and you and I have to protect ourselves. 
     It is what it is.