2) Not sure if this was a feat/variant/house rule or not. But I am looking for reference to the ability to use your STR mod to Intimidate checks instead of your CHA mod.
I thought that I saw a feat that allowed you to do this. I want to say that it was in an FR book (Orc/Half-Orc racial?), but I can't find it. I may be thinking of Might Makes Right, which allows you to use strength for the purposes of leadership.
In the case that it isn't a real feat, you could make one (with the DM's permission). A feat that does nothing but this would be significantly underpowered. If you choose to go this route, I would suggest making a feat that does that and a few related things, and post it on the house rules forum.
