What translation do you use?
These days, my own, but for a long time I liked Soncino's old one. Most of what you'll find on the site is still Soncino's, with some modifications by me.
Why all the anachronism?
Anachronism is very important to my work, in part because it's very important to the Gemara – a good part of its genius comes from anachronism. It also highlights our strengths and limitations when we try to imagine the personae and situations of the Talmud.
Why no beards on Chaza”l?
Personal aesthetics, as well as deliberate subversion of some common assumptions about Chaza”l and their relationship to certain religious groups of today.