Hooking up a Baracuda G4 questions

I recently purchased a Baracuda G4 and plugged it directly into the skimmer. Since I am now bypassing the skimmer basket, I now clean out the pump filter basket on a regular basis.

Now I have 2 questions:

1) I adjusted the baracuda's suction so that it doesn't get stuck in one place, but still allowing it to clean the sides of the pool. I was wondering, since I was hampering the water suction of my pump, if this was actually increasing the load on my pump.

2) Is it bad to let the pump filter basket collect all the debris? Are there any accessories we could add which can catch the debris before it gets to the pump filter basket?

Thanks!