Archie, in regard to 2. above, each track should get a weigh-bridge installed (easily absorbed cost), and the horse-weights published when they get to the track, and in the Race Report for future reference.
Appreciate the info will come 'late' to those punters getting-on early, but similar applies to jockey-changes, overweights, going-changes etc. In this day and age, there should be no issue in getting the information to punters, by publishing it online e.g. BHA website.
Don't care if or how it might be applied to Flat races.