Can't answer #1, but for #2, Intel hasn't even launched Core 2 Duo yet. Most of the C2D CPU's out there are either pre-release samples or chips that were shipped prematurely. Merom is scheduled to be launched with the rest of the C2D...
I just unpacked mine (ordered on Wed, shipped on Wed from Dallas, received today in Northern VA) and am stupified at the amount of bloatware that it has just installed on its initial boot (20 packages!).