I don't think as much current flows as you would expect]I don't think as much current flows as you would expect
Well that is what I actually measured. If it is any consolation I was surprised you could get 250mA from a pin, that is 8 times the level when damage starts to occur according to the data sheet.
It takes time a finite time to get to 40ma? It takes time a finite time to get to 40ma?
No, why should it.
The only thing that would slow the current rise down is a series inductance.
How about 10ms? 10us?
Over current is over current no matter how short it is applied for. Look at the number of people advising a series resistor for the gate of a FET because that looks like a capacitor of a few tens of pF and that would over current the pin because a discharged capacitor looks like a short circuit.