Questions on Earth, Water Blessings

[Agrajag]

1) The E9 bless adds +4 to protection from armor. No armour - no bonus protection.
2) The quickness from bless is not magical quickness. Then again, W8 does give +4 defence, so what is there to complain about?
3) I don't think it does, and even if it does, what does it matter? Since all of your mages cast their spells in the same "phase" of combat, there's really no difference who goes first.