Re question #1: the HUGE dilemma is how Barnabas could physically travel in his 1840 body along the Stairway to 1971, instead of putting that body back into the coffin in 1841 so that it's there for Willie to let out in 1967, which it HAS to be. Plus his 1970 body is presumably sitting there in a trance in 1970, or 1971 by that point, waiting to receive his 1970 spirit back again. Instead, there's Barnabas walking around 1971 in his 1840 body with another body sitting at the table in front of the I Ching wands, in the Old House basement I suppose.