You don't preload per se, Disco, but I find if I've loaded another map (any map) then the next map load is way quicker.
Yes this is true, load ctf_bball2/another map first thing (imo the fastest loading map evar) and you will connect to other servers faster. This also works in L4D, I think it's loaded the engine/models/textures already so it doesn't need to do it again?
Only ammomod ip i've got Cheez is in America so 100 ping, ftw: 217.112.254.24:27015