paragraph one: yes, but then you'll leave your own worm wide open for any range of attack, piling possibilities and gives your opponent drowning options. That's hardly a strategy I'd embrace unless I had no choice.
paragraph two: I'm not talking about WxW here, though, nor was this thread about WxW. the only times I ever had time trouble was if I wasted too much time with inefficient knocking. Either that or you picked the wrong map for shopper (or your turn just plain sucked, in which case you deserve not to have proper retreat options)
not attacking from ropes gives you no advantage in comparison to attacking from rope. Yes, sometimes it's easier to attack from the ground cause your opponent hid well, but a) your shot will most likely not be a direct hit and thus less effective and b) will rob you of retreat options.
In a manner, not attacking from rope has more disadvantages than advantages and I feel personally feel it is therefore really unnecessary to take even further punishment for doing so by skipping a turn afterwards.
