1) microSD cards can be (and are sometimes) faster than their equivalent SD cards that aren't rated to be any faster. Take a look at results from running 'SD Tools'... I, for example, just ordered a 32GB Class 10 microSD for my Galaxy Tab to use to replace the 16GB Class 2 I've been using all along. It will EASILY run at least as well as even the other Class 10 full size SD cards I have. Whether a microSD is faster or slower isn't related to its form micro vs full form factor--objective benchmarks prove that they're just as varied as the full size cards--from very slow to turbo fast.

2) ...Except when they aren't there--and that's the important thing. For Honeycomb/Ice Cream Sandwich aware games and for full screen video, those on-screen controls will not be there until it detects a touch near the controls areas to wake those widgets back up. (If you've used Honeycomb before, you know what I'm talking about... if you've never used it before, check it out in the store sometime on a Honeycomb running tablet... go ahead and full-screen a video or something.)