Travel Volume
The answers to your questions are yes and yes. Use as much servo travel as you can get and adjust the linkage for the proper throw. This gives the servo the greatest mechanical advantage, as well as reduce the amount the control surface will move from "gear slop" at the center. Moving the pushrod closer to the servo also unloads the servo bearing supports and the gear train. the additional travel will not harm the servo, in fact 100% travel on Hitec is not the same as Futaba or JR as the output of the radio systems are not matched, and on occasion the different radios may even have a different servo center. :^)