Thanks for the tip Cameron. I haven't done too much reading of the manual yet.
Here is my dx test. I used the Sgma 10-20 set at 10mm.
Full image

Manual cropped

Remorhaz ,,,, I've been called many things over the years but test bunny is a new one. Test dummy is more like it.
To try and answer your questions
- AF seems to be as as snappy if not a little faster. The etching on the viewfinder appears to be the same size so maybe a smaller area is covered.
- I haven't tried moving focal points yet.
- The fastest thing I've aimed at so far are the fishing boats.
- The
mode dial lock button sucks big time. Why did they change something that was easy to use to be quite so clumsy.
- According to page 107 of the manual it does.
Hope thats helped you a bit. I'm still at the very early stages of learning. It feels very much like the D7000 but I like the profile of the handgrip better. I can grip the camera more comfortably. The difference in size is small and goes unnoticed in use. My experience so far is that speed-wise the D600 at least equals or betters D7000..
Cheers, John D