My answer to the third question is all three yes choices with certain exceptions. Sometimes I can read entirely new fandom just based on your (or someone else's) rec, I've discovered that to be a good way to find new fandoms and pairings.
And sometimes it's just a question of mood or the fact that I really want to read something from certain fandom so then it's yay, recs. Any kind of recs. :D

Psst.. You don't happen to know any Rachel/Chandler fic recs? I don't know what's gotten to me, but god, I really want to read at least one good, long, finished R/C fic. The only ones I've found are from ff.net! Help!