As far as the restraint thing goes...I'd vote no unless you're a leo. They train in it. We don't (and practicing with furry handcuffs doesn't count!) IMHO, getting within contact distance of a subject without the proper training/backup/knowledge is asking for trouble. At ten feet, with him...
Always one in the chamber in my carry guns. I leave the chamber empty on the one in the nightstand because it forces me to wake up enough to rack the slide before pulling the trigger at 3 in the morning.
Not often, but I have. During the winter I'll carry strong side in a paddle with a jacket covering all but the end of the barrel, but I don't really consider that open.