Few Rules Clarification!

I was watching Ronnie vs Ding 2007 Masters Final today and there were few rules I was really not sure about. Just wondering if snooker community can put some light on it.

1. Ball Re-Spot:
In one of the frame, black ball was potted but all the colors positions were occupied. Ideally, if all the color spots are occupied then ball should be placed as close as possible to the top cushion from its spot but the referee placed the black just below the pink ball..not sure why this happened.

2. Foul & Miss:
Need some details on this. In which situation this rule applies? In one of the frame, safety play was going on and Ronnie tried to nudge the red bunch gently but missed the touch - here there were few others risky red visible so in case I understand why referee called it Foul & Miss. But in frame 7, Ding snookered Ronnie just behind black and only pink was available. The white was entirely hidden behind black and pink was not visible at all. Here again Ronnie tried to hit pink but missed so its a foul but why is it a miss?

3. Free Ball Rule:
Need some details on this. In which situation this rule applies?

Few Rules Clarification!