Pretty much. It's a reason to avoid dying, like always. [ So nothing's changed in that regard. ]

Well, let him challenge you anyways! I can use the day off, you know? And he'll pay for the materials! [ HAHAHA. Tenten the maniacal genius strikes again. ]

I'm not sure. I think it's for their own amusement, or maybe to test us in a personal setting and see how we react to the average stimuli around us. I think Shikamaru would know better on this subject than myself.