Rob Horton wrote:

The best solution to me seems to remove the fan from the light switch
and give it, it's own separate pull cord switch with a neon indicator so
that you can tell if the fan is actually on or in time out.

I have the same problem (with a fussy relative), and solved it with a
pull switch series wired before the fan isolator switch. This switch
(inside the bathroom but away from unsafe zones) has a neon indicator
that neatly shows whether the fan is powered for timeout use, or
disabled for nuisance control.

--
Adrian C