TexasCHLforum.com

Answers to your questions.....

1). Don't think so because I doubt the "left arm talks to the right arm" at licensing bureaus, but maybe an instructor can confirm.
2). I believe they forward to a DPS rep in each city/county you have worked and lived. Being you are in one of the most populous areas, and assuming that the proportion of applications is proportionate to the population, and also assuming government inefficiency (they don't necessarily add x% more staff because of x% more population in an area) your wait could be longer. Can't say for sure though....again, maybe an instructor can weigh in?
3). Assume a record will cause delays - there is probably another level of approval required by maybe a supervisor or manager in the CHL dept at DPS. Again, common sense speaking here, maybe an instructor can confirm.

Hope it works out for you. Going through something similar with my wife, but she's traveling on business so isn't here thinking about it everyday.