I may be able to help you with a few of your questions - #1 - I have mine on the weakest strength - but I swear that it
is faster than before I made that switch - may go back and reset to regular strength to see #2 the match effect is turned off if you have it on free play.
#4 I left my original rubber on that spike post as the smallest one I received in my rubber kit was still a bit too big imo -
and I didn't want balls to be returned from hitting it.
M