1. Actually, if you look at the F/D curves, when the recurve starts to uncurl the weight/inch of draw decreases. The early string weight is high with recurves b/c the bow is acting like a shorter bow. When the string lifts-off the limb the bow starts to act like a longer bow.
Stacking is measurable and nicely corresponds to when the string angle at the tips approaches 90 degrees. At that point the limbs are trying to be pulled straight back instead of being bent. Even short recurves don't stack very early in the draw. The only case where they do would be in a bow where the tips are extremely soft (lots of taper in the limb) and most/all of the bending is at the tips. The string angle would approach 90 degrees quicky. You may be able to fix it, but it'd drop the draw weight of the bow considerably.
Finger pinch - the string angle at the fingers - is another matter entirely and is often mistakenly called "stacking". It's a subjective feeling, where stacking is a measurable trait.
I tend to ramble without coffee in the morning!
2. Powder coating would unnecessarily add mass to the limbs, robbing the bow of performance. The limb skins or decals or whatever onestringer is calling them work very well, and you can change the pattern easily if you like.