Just to address point 2. No. Those who say yes probably do not understand what EV certs actually do.
You get the exact same level of security from EV and non-EV certs. The whole "extended validation" criteria is pretty handwavy and varies from CA to CA. Paying more for that warm, fuzzy feeling isn't worth it.
Who are you to say that, for him, giving his customers a "warm fuzzy feeling" isn't worth paying a few hundred dollars? It could easily increase revenue far more than that.
You get the exact same level of security from EV and non-EV certs. The whole "extended validation" criteria is pretty handwavy and varies from CA to CA. Paying more for that warm, fuzzy feeling isn't worth it.