As far as the ice vanes go, on the ground open at all times except during T/O where performance limited. using the electric vanes B200/1900 we would turn the vanes off just before advancing power to avoid Fod'ing and get max torque, lower itt's.
As far as the windows, I have had 5 break and they only happened to me with windscreen heat on. Normal breakage pattern was along the outside electric elements radiating inward, with a box pattern outside of the high heat section.
YEV, my old stomping grounds