Neutron Half-life
Well, well, well...
One lives and learns. Thanks for the link, and a reminder that my sub-quantum physics needs an update. 10.3 minutes, eh? That certainly sorts out the Neutron Soup loony...
So I'll concede point 1, and refer it to the "weak interaction force" which is the current working explaanation.
As for the other points, if you accept that mass distorts space and velocity distorts time, then you have an Einstein-Lorentz universe and most other thiongs follow.
If you ask "Why?", then I can't give any answers. It just does...