1. UR is using the ShellExecute API [1] to open the stored Outlook message (via its outlook: url if linked or via the filename of a temporary copy if stored). I'm not sure what would cause Outlook to hang when launched in that way (very similar to double-clicking a .msg file in Explorer or typing its outlook: url into the Run dialog), and I wasn't able to reproduce the problem here with Windows XP SP2 and Outlook 2003 SP2.
2. I wasn't able to reproduce this either. Please send or post the info from Help | About | Install Info.
[1]
http://tinyurl.com/hsgz