I've come up with an idea for the third problem. This is edited from something I found in the manual, along with the Kingdom Hearts movement script.

Code:
function place_me_on_surface
{	
	vec_set(temp,my.z); //set primary vector
 	temp.z -= 5; // 'bout half a foot from the surface
	var_angle[3] + { my.pan, my.tilt, my.roll }; // point angle in the direction of character's feet
	vec_rotate(temp,angle); //rotate vector
 	c_trace(my.z, temp, IGNORE_ME); //trace from character's feet about half a foot
 	vec_set(my.z, target); // put on surface
 	vec_to_angle(my.tilt, normal); // stand "upright" from normal
 	vec_to_angle(my.roll, normal);
}


Am I on track with this?