Hi Kevin
For number 1 an example is as follows:
I have a product catalogue that does not use the checkout facilities in the cart it is simply used to display products with list prices and member prices for registered members with their appropriate discounts.
On some products that are rare they don't have a unit price they need to be POA (Price On Application) in other words members need to contact the company to get a price for a product because it is rare or varies too often to have a list price.
In future there will be the cart enabled on this site and at this point any items with POA i will turn off the Add to Cart buttons.
For number 2 it is very similar to what you suggest with the custom ship methods however there should be no option to ship when it's the quantity is above 7 at which point the only option is Request Freight Quote (which is similar to price on application)
let me know if this does not make sense
Cheers Marcus