I agree, both points
Problem with the first one is: it's only dead in the water philosophically, and only for people who can recognize "begging the question" when they see it. That isn't going to prevent it from being put forward, as is happening in Kansas -- especially not in regions pre-disposed against evolution and modern cosmology.
I'd be less discomfited if hardcore creationists were also lined up opposing i.d. from the opposite side... but I'm not seeing that, which allows me to suspect that they're willing to let it open the schoolhouse door for them.