Actually, according to IFI's documentation, only the outputs (PWM and relay) are disabled when a robot is disabled. It'll still sense, it'll still send data to the OI, it'll still get data from the OI--it just can't
do anything with it.
When a robot is activated--well, you get the idea.
As for the fourth question, unless it says otherwise in the rules, a robot during the autonomous period can do anything a driver would be able to do. Before the autonomous period, the robots are disabled. After, you've got driver control.
IFI's documentation defines these sorts of things pretty well--get them at
www.innovationfirst.com if you're up for some fun reading.