1. No, nothing firm. For commons, it depends on how many in a squad and how many we consider suitable in an army. When it's a close call we try to put that info in the mini announcement.
2. As you say, we've used air stands before. I don't know why we wouldn't consider doing so again.
3. Oh, right. We should do that. Hopefully it's not discouraging people from participating, though.
FWIW, I'm glad to answer questions like this, and keep 'em coming if you want. But I also want our lurkers and our new members to know they can come here and ask little one-off questions and get quick answers. Also, a guy like you can (and will, I suspect) chip in with answers, too, when you have them for others.