To the steam issue:
Steam doesn't update everything every update. It verifies if you have the current version of all files and only transfers those files which differ.
And before CS1.6 there where smaller upgrade files available which updated the game from the last version to the current...
hmm, don't get me wrong, but i of course tested that cvar, its avail in the gui. and 0.0 or -1 don't help. the corpses still slowly sink into the ground keeping me from seeing from where they have been killed or aiming at my oppenent.