I have seen the first practice done in an sspx Church before.  It is very offputting and distracting but my understanding (which may be wrong) is that the compromised 1962 Missal allows for this practice.  So while I would certainly call it a novelty, I dont believe it is an "abuse," within the parameters of the (seriously flawed) Missal they use.  As an ironic side note, their use of the confiteor before Communion, while a traditional practice, could accurately be called an "abuse" in relation to the missal they use, which impiously abolished the practice.  If however, like me, your qualm is with their Missal itself, then this particular aberration pales to the rest of today's SSPX liturgy.

As for a woman leading the Office prayers, I assume it was a nun and without knowing the specific circuмstances I would think the safe and charitable assumption would be that it was justified in this instance.  I am not knowledgeable on the laws governing the public Divine Office, so I personally would assume the best.