Unfortunately, I can't answer many of your questions...You do have a good understanding of the basics, as I do...What I can answer is, many US Lakes are stocked with Muskie that are not expected to reproduce successfully, meaning its a "put and take" fishery, much like the Pacific Salmon/Rainbow Trout fishery that exists in some of the Great Lakes. All Canadian(Ontario) Muskie populations are wild and self-sustaining, though there have been stocking programs at times over the last 100 years...
This makes me think we need to have Jason Borwick (Aurora District Biologist, O.M.N.R.) come out to speak at a Muskies Canada meeting soon, (guests are always welcome at MCI meetings).
I will see if I can arrange it and post smething here since there have been some questions about the L.S.M.R.P. here recently.