after posting the question I came across this hadeeth (which seems to answer the second part of my question) found in the article named: "Sifat Wudoo' un-Nabee: The Characteristics of the Ablution of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) "
Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu'anhu) said: Rasoolullah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said Whoever makes wudoo and makes it well then goes out - and then finds that the people have finished the Prayer - then Allaah gives him the same reward as one who had prayed it along with the people without diminishing any of their reward. [Reported by Abu Dawood (no.564) and an-Nasaa'ee (no.856) and others. Al-Albaanee declares it to be 'saheeh' (As-Saheehah, no.6039)].
Imaam az-Zuhree (the famous taabi'ee, died 124H) said, "The people of knowledge who came before us used to say,'Salvation lies in clinging to the Sunnah.'" Reported by ad-Daarimee in his Sunan (no.96)