1. Yes
2. Common sense / SOP / Regulatory instruction
3. Follow RA
4. See my Handle
6. Reminded us of SOP, in unlikely event anyone needed reminding.
5. See 2 - of course. The Swiss accident likely / partly happened because this was not a universal practice.
TCAS is the backstop for when the ATC system fails us (thankfully rarely). I have yet to know when functioning TCAS, correctly followed by all parties, has increased the hazard. I know plenty of the converse...
Hope of use to you! However, the fact you bring up not following an RA as even an option is hazardous in itself... there must be NO option.
NoD