J.J. wrote:
"1.) It seems like lightning "finds" a parh before discharging through
it."

Speculation is tempting. I would not swear to a sequence of events but
J.J.`s scenario seems plausible.

Lightning breaks down the dielectric of the atmosphere at some point
where the potentiaal gradient initiates a huge arc. Charges are
accumulating and moving about until an ignition potential is reached at
some point.

Influence of accumulations of charges and their movements must be
propagated at the speed of light, thought by many to be the final speed
limit. Communication of electromagnetic forces among the atmospheric
charges may be considered "finding a path" for the lightning bolt.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI