But still there are Be3 and Qd2 setups, while variations with f2-f4 and Bc1-g5 are more dangerous than against the Dragon. Finally Black finds it more difficult to develop counterplay against the Classical setups with Be2.

If black refuses to castle than central strategy is whites best option like in a Khalifmann game (dont remember agianst who, but Khalifmann was white) where heplayed h3 h3 f4 e5.

Speeking of low theory, Nc4 has also lots of lines (it used to be the main line of the entire Dragon!) but no one remembers them anymore. My trainer told me that ha saw a video at ICC where they claimed that black is ok after some improvemnt in 16 Kb1 line but since I have not seen it myself I dont know. Only problem in that case is that black must also have soemthing agianst Kb1 before h4 variation (perhaps Nc4 Bxc4 Txc4 g4 b5 b3 b4) as well as something if white plays g4 instead of h5.

Also, 9-0-0-0 d5 system is not to theoretically demanding , according to Rogozenkos annotation of a game at Megadatabase, if black meets 12 Bd4 with Nxc3 Qxc3 Bh6+ Be3 Bxe3 Qxe3 Qb6 system.  But this line is hardly a winning try, there are many lines that are forced draws or else slightly better for white.

"Omniscient" = "obsolete," I suppose.

9. 0-0-0 Nxd4 has been generally considered for some time as leading to a slight advantage for White with best play, while 9. 0-0-0 d5 seems to sort of fluctuate between = and +=.  I can't really imagine why an 1800 player would be worried about playing the former, perhaps especially since it has a rather solid and thematic nature.

I'm similarly inclined about the line 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. 0-0-0 Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 Nc4 (which Black can play for against various White move orders).  One tidbit regarding the position after 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. h5 Nxh5 15. g4 Nf6:  ECO (2003) thought the best was 16. Kb1, leading to a slight advantage, while MCO (2008) thought that none of White's 16th moves should lead to any advantage.  

i mean that many of his opponents will not play the critical lines because although many 1800 players know the basic idea of the Jugoslav attack (h4 h5 g4 Bh6 Nd5) plans, they know little of the actual theory and are content to throw their k-side pawns at black tile their hearts content. the most usual Jugoslav games i get at that club are 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Bh6/g4 to which my guy knows good lines against. against 12.h4, the old lines with Bh6 on move 16 are omniscient since most people have only learnt them from the woefully out of date library in the club of which the only text on the dragon is years old. he will have to learn lines of 16.Nd5 and 16. e5, the most critical lines.
12.Kb1 has never been played against me at the club but i have met several times at tournaments

i maintain that the average 1800 will not know the heavy lines against 9.Nxd4

what i really need though are good lines for the 12...Nc4 games that follow after 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.h5 Nxh5 15.g4 Nf6 16.Kb1
                                                                     16.Nd5
                                                                     16.Nb3
                                                                     16.Ne2
                                                                    
its really difficult to find the current theory on this since most texts deal with the Soltis. If my man is ok here, then i doubt that any sidelines will bother him.

I would go for the Dragadorff or lines with an early ...h5 (and look how White will react to it).

Sure! even at 2000+ level.

I have reccomended the dragon to a friend who plays chess at my club because he said he enjoys sharp positions with counter attacking possibilities. however he works full time and cant be bothered to learn the full theory of Solits, 9.0-0-0, the chinese and so on and so i was wondering whether it would be worth reccomending sidelines which may be under a theoretical cloud at this time but at the level he plays at, players are unlikely to know the busts of.

9.0-0-0 Nxd4!? or possibly Bd7. hes unlikely to run into critical tries and it is slightly more thematical to the dragon than 9...d5 (my original reccomendation)

9.Bc4 Bd7 10. h4 Na5
               10. Bb3 Na5
               10. 0-0-0 Rc8 Bb3 Ne5 h4 Nc4!?
                                                 Kb1 Nc4 Bxc4 Rxc4 g4 b5 b3 b4!?