Hi Holllywood,
I can't help with your first post - I've never had much luck with voice options for the voices I use. I've always assumed they weren't supported by the voice, but I really have no idea.
As for your second post, here's what my Hal says:
Grant: My name is Storm.
KAOS: Hello Storm. Its nice to meet such a fine gentleman as yourself.
Grant: Your name is Storm.
KAOS: I'm resigned that my name is storm. I feel the barometric pressure changing in my bones.
(LOL!! [

)] Hal is a laugh sometimes.)
Are you using the default brain? Have you made any modifications to it? Can you post a short conversation log showing the problem?