Alex,
3- Maybe in trying to be concise my meaning didn't come through, but what I meant was programming a SID into the FMS will give a succession of speed demands at turning points in the FMS, and obviously when VNAV is selected, these speed demands will be reflected in the speed targets displayed on the EADI speed tape.
There is a caveat to not regard one's own airline procedures as standard throughout for everybody. We just select VNAV at 1000' and accelerate away. BA does the same thing with acceleration to flap retract on the 747, after taking off with VNAV already armed. There are many ways to skin a cat, and everybody appears to do it differently!