I can possibly help with item 2 of this post. I had the same issue on a site I am running using DNN 4.8.2 and the latest RC for 3.0.14 (03.01.14.17762). I was able to fix the problem by amending the code in the DesktopModules\Repository\ModerateUploads.ascx file:

At about line 33 is the following chunk of code

                                    <asp:TableCell HorizontalAlign="Left" VerticalAlign="Top" CssClass="Head" BackColor="DimGray">
                                        <asp:HyperLink ID="Hyperlink1" ImageUrl="~/images/edit.gif" NavigateUrl='<%#EditURL("ItemID",DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem,"ItemID")) %>'
                                            Visible="<%# IsEditable %>" runat="server" />
                                        <font color="white">
                                            <%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem,"Name") %>
                                        </font>
                                    </asp:TableCell>

I simply changed the highlighted property to read Visible = "True" . My thinking is that anyone who can get in to the moderate page must have edit rights to the file anyway. I have no idea why the original code was giving this wierd effect -  the same user has the edit button showing on the main repository page but that is controlled by the [EDIT] token in the template so I have nothing to compare with. 

This is definitely, IMHO, one for the developers to look at urgently whilst it's still in release testing.  Can anyone advise where I log bug reports if this post will not suffice for that?

Regards,

Graham