I don't know the answer to #1 but I'm sure someone here does.

For #2; if you like working 'linearly' like this you may like Realband better.
You probably already have it (included with BiaB) and may want to try it.

For me it makes more sense to work in the linear way you describe and I find RB more flexible (and designed for this), but there is a way to 'Unfold' a song in BiaB also, so hopefully someone else chimes in soon on how to do that. Then the song becomes linear in BiaB and you can work with it as such.
Like I said; RB behaves this way from the git-go, so I'm more comfortable in RB (for this and many other reasons).

I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!