SH3 Bugs and Workarounds help please

I'm sorry if this is a repost. I tried searching for similar threads but didn't get lucky.

There's a problem with earining renown that I've read about, one that has a workaround. The way I understand it you have to spent it before a mission, not after it (or was it the other way around?) At least I saw something like this mentioned in the Gray Wolves 1.1 readme.

What I don't understand is how I can tell if it's before or after a mission. The way I see it before = after a mission. It's the same screen, isn't it? Do I have to exit the campaign and then reload to before a mission to by some new hardware? Do I have to avoid buying something and then leaving the campaign?

Also, I don't think any of my crewmen are actually gaining any experience. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong here or if it's a bug, but after a patrol none of my crewmen have gained XP and I can't find a single one with a medal, even though the after-mission report says that my crew has earned some.

And while I'm at it, I think I've encountered a bug in the Gray Wolves 1.1 mod. While the harbours were alive with activity I've only found cargo ships that were dead in the water during my patrols. Is that normal?

If someone could clear some of this up for me I'd really appriciate it.