[Clipper]

In answer to your other question, the counting as a Thief in combat part is referring to how monsters treat you, not how you use Items. So a monster that gets a bonus against Thieves will get a bonus in the combat, unless you choose to let the Comrade sit out the combat as it would penalize you. You would still get the +3 bonus in the example you provided, unless the Item was the one held by Taurus.