Short answers:

Often the performance numbers that we have allows for higher weights in one direction than the other. STT comes to mind; we'd take a tailwind on runway 28 and depart over the sea instead of 10 into the terrain.

As an outsider looking in: AA pilots are not happy with their management/contract/etc. (understandably so) and so they taxi at a safe speed. They have my support and I used to enjoy being behind them. SWA is overall happy about their situation and they all try to help out the company. Plus, they get paid by the trip vs. per block hour.