How to care for a rhubarb plant - Perhaps an answer to one of your questions....

This is what the National Gardening Association says on their website about the care and havesting of rhubard. It seems to answer your question on whether to pull or cut the stalks at harvest time. Hope it helps, Micha

Care
Mulch with compost to provide nutrients and retain moisture during the summer. Remove seed stalks as they form. Dig and split roots every 3 to 4 years. Expand your patch or give root sections away. If you keep your rhubarb patch weed-free, it is not apt to be disturbed by insects or diseases.

Harvesting
Let your rhubarb grow without harvesting any stalks the first year so the plants can become established. If the plants show vigorous growth during the second season, you can harvest a light crop. By the third year, you can take most of the stalks. To harveset, simply pull gently on the stalks to dislodge them from the plant. You can pull all of the stalks at one time or pulled them out as you need them over a four to six week period. Remove and compost the leaves, as they contain high levels of oxalic acid, which is toxic in high doses.