Role of pH in azo C-coupling reaction, continued

In the question, "[What is the role of pH in azo coupling reaction of diazonium with phenol and aniline?](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/29251/what-is-the-role-of-ph-in-azo-coupling-reaction-of-diazonium-with-phenol-and-ani)" asked by @DhrubaBanerjee and answered by @Klaus-DieterWarzecha, I find several ends untied. I considered starting a bounty on the previous question, but since my question is looking for slightly more specificity than just looking at the whole picture, I decided to ask a separate question.


That post discusses why azo coupling of aniline is conducted in acidic medium. However, I am not convinced of a few things.


My query is twofold:


1. The $\ce{-^+NH3}$ group is inductively deactivating (as mentioned [here](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/a/31650/69977)). That is a turn-off for attacks on electrophiles (like a diazonium cation). But **why is the protonation of aniline preferred?**



> 
> In the case of aniline, the lone pair on the nitrogen atom is the preferred centre for the reaction with the diazonium cation:
> 
> 
> ![Diazonium and aniline](https://i.stack.imgur.com/eHGR4.png)
> 
> 
> This isn't what we want! Protonation of aniline avoids this side reaction.
> 
> 
> 


I do agree with Klaus-Dieter Warzecha that an alkaline $\mathrm{pH}$ would lead to azo *N*-coupling, but if we were concerned about the electrophilic attack occurring from the nitrogen atom, in my opinion, it should have been acylated at $\ce{N}$, leaving no room for side reactions but also keeping the ring activated (although less than before). I believe the yield would be higher.


2. **If an equimolar mixture of Aniline and Phenol was added to a reaction vessel containing benzenediazonium chloride in acidic medium, would the major product be phenol's couple product or aniline's couple product?**


[![Major product?](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zQQLH.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zQQLH.jpg)


[This Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azo_coupling#Examples_of_azo_N-coupling_reactions) article states that phenol's coupling is base-catalyzed. I assume it accelerates the reaction by assisting the formation of phenolate ion. Going by that, the aforementioned conditions will be *less* favorable for phenol's coupling.


But I find it hard to take in that a protonated aniline could couple faster than phenol. Phenol would still be capable of coupling (only unaccelerated), while aniline should have been weakened by the deactivation.


Hence I would choose phenol to form the major product. I wish to know if my reasoning is correct or not, and if not, an explanation.


I would greatly appreciate any constructive discussion/specific answers.


