It depends I asked these questions specifically and got a generic response too, it depends on the agent answering how accommodating they are
Correct ! If you application is being processed at a Local VO, they would just re-direct you to check with the LVO or a General reply of Application in progress. I have rasied 2 CSE's till now and every time the response is generic no matter how you phrase it. You really need to be lucky to be able to get precise info.