1. The same way it affects the player characters. They can do it, but it will give them a tummy ache :(

2. Feel free to take it however you like! The doubles don't have a deep knowledge of Wellstone, but they can certainly have their own theories and thoughts about what's happening.

The things that they do know for sure: They know why they're there (to replace or kill their originator), they know in some way that they are less than their originator, they know that they have limited time, and that they may no longer exist if they don't succeed in their mission.