1- The fastest repeatable cut to me is to slide the stock against a locked fence at 3" from the blade like on a table saw or panel saw.
Agreed - kinda - for anything 4 to 5 foot long.
Any longer than that & it becomes difficult on the table saw.

How do the Festool track sections join? Do any of you see the same problems?
Festool uses two connectors instead of one.
I haven't had any issues with mine getting the two sections straight or keeping them straight.
Then again, I always use the Festool clamps on the tracks.