1) the only time I played a bracket without weighting was when you filled it out each week. So this week we filled out only for opening weekend, then after the first and second round you fill it out again, etc. This way all the games were worth equal value. Otherwise, weighting is better.
2). I think this is a mandatory for the first round, or first weekend. It benefits those that follow hoops (not me this year
) and makes the #4-#8 seeded games much more interesting.
3). whatever price sounds good.