Responding to question 3.

TallyMan:

3. If we decide to purchase treasuries, I do have a Treasury Direct account already with a substantial position in Series I bonds and have noticed the option to buy bills, notes, and bonds through that account. Better to buy through "noncompetitive bid" or "competitive bid"?

You can only purchase marketable treasury securities by "noncompetitive bid" through Treasury Direct. You schedule a purchase defining the security type(Bills/Notes/Bonds/TIPS), the term (specific to the type), next scheduled auction date. You receive the clearing price based on the auction of the competitive bids.