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With regards to the "couple" question: I think the omission of the the "of" is simply a result of our contraction obsession (with regards to the spoken word)—if we can reduce the number of syllables; we will.
"Couple of apples" -> "couple o' apples" -> "couple-a apples" -> "coupla apples" -> "couple apples." It's a verbal shorthand that has migrated to the written language (and yes, I think it's improper and don't do it myself; but neither am I going to get "up in arms" over it).
Same as the slow corruption of St. Nicholas to Santa Clause. Is it wrong?
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