Hardened exclusions and lack of update slideup questions

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

  1. Creating exclusions from the taskbar popup/sliedeup doesn’t work.
    Creating exclusions manually does work.
    The whole Hardened thing is a mess for me - why do I have to add exclusions here when they already are listed under Active protection/File shield setting?
    Is there really a need for two places - if so give me an example where inefficiency such as this might be useful.
    Does Hardened mode mean an “inactive” protection and if so, what might that be?

  2. For several days now there is no slideup about definitions updated, it doesn’t even speak it. Only looking at About confirms that updates are taking place. No, I’m not now, and never used the ‘be silent’ mode for full screen programs.