Going to be more injuries too if every play ends with the player being taken to the ground, which is why they created "forward progress" in the first place.
Not an automatic first down. I was told the vote this year was 23-24, and it takes 2/3's to pass. So not even close to being changed.
Changed that a couple of years ago.
I'll guess that most coaches are aware of the rule, although maybe not all the particulars. I know some officials who think coaches should do this all the time. They are wrong.
If the fair catch is made on the 35 yard line (which would be an average punt) you're talking about a 45 yard field goal. That's very long for most high school kids, and if you miss the opponent gets the ball on the 20, after you just made them punt from the end zone! And we all know that if the punt is caught on the 35 the coach is thinking touchdown, not field goal. The only time it would really come into play is with very little time left in the half. It just doesn't happen very often.
And you can use a kicking tee.