msmp said: "Similarly simple/stupid question: does the Shubert box office have a block of tickets that won't be available via Telecharge or vice versa? Trying to gauge whether it's a good idea to commute to the city from out of state or if Telecharge really will be my best option."
I think they have a different interface into the same block of tickets in a database, so whereas the site may say row C, four seats in, is the best option; the box office might be able to say, I can get you on the aisle in Row F.
That said, if the people doing rush for two shows of Bernadette and any other Bette people are all in one line and getting their tickets, and (in my experience) not the quickest people as far as making decisions (are the seats any better on this day? etc.), I wouldn't want to be getting my first shot at tickets at 10:10, when I could have had a better shot at 10 a.m. online. There likely won't be any interactive seat maps at 10a, so you're just going to have to take what the system decides or try again...
As for dialing in, there isn't a queue AFAIK but if there aren't tickets showing up yet at 9:59:40, it is probably up to the agent whether to let you hang on the phone or say try again. That said, I'd expect it to be pure busy signal a few minutes ahead, unless you'll get through to the recording, think you're good, and then when it goes to connect you to the agent you get the busy signal. I've only had that happen with Ticketmaster before, though.