Some Focused Defense questions for playtesters

[Polydamas]

Focused Defense is an interesting option for simulating many styles, but it raises many rules questions. Some questions for people who were in the GURPS Martial Arts: Gladiators playtest:

* Is Focused Defense really intended to let you use a reach 1 weapon like a Thrusting Broadsword in Close Combat with no penalty except the -1 parry for parrying with a refused side, and reduce the penalty for a one-handed Spear from -8 to -4? That is probably realistic, but it seems to make the Close Combat technique obsolete for Reach 1 and 2 weapons.

* What does Focused Defense do to minimum Reach? As written there is no effect, so a Reach 1,2 rapier held in a refused hand becomes Reach 1. Why did they rule this way?

* Can you combine Focused Defense and Cross Parry to get +2 to your defense with the leading side? I've never seen a Cross Parry done while refusing one side, but that doesn't mean its impossible.

* By the RAW, you cannot Block in Close Combat (p. B392). But gladiators relied on parrying with the shield, so a gladiator with his sword hand refused cannot attack without stepping into Close Combat and giving up his Block. Was this intentional? Is that rule realistic?

Some of these questions were discussed in this thread but not conclusively.