How to use a view as a search result page with facets?
For #1 You could try using Rules to catch the term and do a redirect.  You could also use hook_form_FORM_ID_alter to catch it

Edit:

You can use "Drupal is initializing" for the event, and add a condition that examines the args coming in.  For instance, search/some%20search%query would be:

arg(0) = search
arg(1) = some search query

So here are the steps:

Event -> Drupal is initializing
Condition -> Execute Custom PHP

$arg0 = arg(0);
$arg1 = arg(1);
if ($arg0 == 'search' &amp;&amp; $arg1 == 'some search query') {
  drupal_goto('search/my-predetermined-facet');
}


That should do it.