chipshot,

It is not uncommon to lose 2 or more inches of drawlength when switching to a compound. It all depends on the setup.
If you can, it is not a bad idea to anchor to the nose as the extra anchor point will only help with consistency.
The string loop is personal preference. It will shorten drawlength a little. It will help save your center serving, but you will have to replace the loop once in a while. It is a good way to make peep sight rotation more consistent if necessary. Some set-ups won't require it, though. At your drawlength, you'll get more than enough performance whichever way you choose to go. By the way, I don't use a loop.

As for bow selection, if hunting is the major application you are looking for, I might suggest a higher brace height. If possible, try shooting the bows with your standard hunting garb to make sure that the bowstring won't be contacting the clothing (especially the arm sleeves). This is one place the higher brace height is appreciated.

Good luck!!