It should be noted that the dropping of the complex airplane requirement applies only to the checkride. Commercial students must still receive 10 hours of training in a complex airplane.
Not so. A VFR flight plan is really nothing more than a "I intend to go from point A to point B via this route" and in the case of SAR being needed if you no-show at your destination it gives them your route of flight, but nothing more. It is certainly not an extra set of eyes.