Good point on #1. Maybe if the guide window just reset to the current time when you leave the guide to do a non-guide function and then come back to the guide window?
I just tested the Guide and it does indeed keep the current time/show selected when you bring up info on it, hit record, and then use the "Back" selection to go back to the Guide. However, there appears to be a bug that if you hit the MCE remote "Record" button from the Guide window itself it will jump to the last show that was selected with the "Ok" button or Enter key. So, if you get a detailed info view on one show, go back to the guide, then scroll over to the right and hit record on another show directly from the Guide it will jump back to the show that you selected to view detailed info on earlier.
I (and my wife) thought that it was jumping back to the current time when you hit record straight from the guide, but I think that only happens if you haven't viewed any detailed info on another show yet.
So essentially, I think the proper operation should be:
If you leave the guide window (select a channel to watch, go to a different menu, etc) and then come back to the Guide window the Guide should always be at the current time.
If you just bring up show info, hit record, etc from the show info the Guide would always stay at whatever time you were just at. (It mostly works like this right now, but there seems to be a bug when you hit the record button in the main Guide view)