2) As soon as I have the cue channel live, I forget the headphones and just listen to the monitors. You can always have a quick listen to them if it starts going out and you dont know which is ahead.

Yeah m8, i do that as well, take me headphones off n use the monitors and if its out a bit use me finger to pitch bend it n that ;)
Somtimes might if the mixers got 1 will put both phones on n use the mix cue to listen to both records, but mostly use the one ear ;)