Welcome Aboard!
About question #2, before I would call it a "bad" thing, I would change the transmission oil and spray every thing from the shifter knob to the transmission with your favorite penetrating oil. That might loosen things up a bit. Could you give us a little more information on what you have done? I am sure the transmission gurus on this board could figure it out.

Always get a 2nd opinion, especially if I am the source of the 1st opinion.