Hi Chuckster
Question#1 Fastest DNS server
So right know your upstream DNS Servers are quad9. You have a primary (9.9.9.9) and a secondary (149.112.112.112). In addition to these because you do not have Override DNS settings for all clients checked devices on your network will use their own DNS settings. (This can make things slow.)
I suggest using NordVPN DNS servers Primary 103.86.96.100 and Secondary 103.86.99.100 (fixed DNS my bad) and make those you only DNS servers(This is because the work well with nord vpn security and show one maybe to servers and some times the show none in a DNSleaktest.
I will answer more later