There's generally not a lot of pushing going on in a power clean. During a clean received in the full squat, you aggressively pull yourself under the bar immediately after you jump. In a power clean, this third pull is much less pronounced, if it happens at all.
The first one. There are some Oly lifters that do the latter, but it would seem to present some serious bar path problems.#3) Rip talks about hitting the spot on your thighs. Does this mean brush past, or actively use your thighs against the bar to bounce it upwards? This is what comes naturally but I don't think it's right.