A:
1.) Yes, the washer stops, but doesn't shut off completely. It flashes an unbalanced code so you can rearrange the load and then hit start to resume the cycle. Once unbalanced, a little shifting of the wet clothes won't do- you must unload practically all of it and re-distribute the weight. (I found this out the hard way.) That said, it takes a pretty big weight disparity before the washer stops.
2.) This I cannot answer since my washer is in the basement and I generally don't hear it at all.