Iv'e been keeping an eye on this thread and tend to agree with Jerry O'Reilly.
I also have a beard, to be honest I first grew it as a fashion thing back in the early 70's and haven't the nerve to shave it off.
I also sing with my eyes closed. When I started to sing and compete in local fleadhs I was very nervous and forgot lines (what's changed?)
Len Graham was the adjudicator and he took me to one side and suggested I try singing with my eyes closed. This was to shut out anything that would break my concentration, I have been singing with my eyes closed ever since.
It has become a natural thing for me to do when I sing. It helps me to concentrate, get into the mood of the song and even after all my years singing I would still get a little nervouse at times.
There is no set way to sing, what ever makes the singer most comfortable, after all the song is the important thing not the way you deliver it.
I would sometimes speak the last line of a song, I don't know why, I probably heard it sung that way when I first heard it and liked the effect, ? who knows? either way what does it matter, you never can please everyone.