Yuppers on Merle - unfortunately Merle was killed in an accident way back - real sad. Nowadays Doc sometimes plays with his Grandson :)

Up picking - err I have but one track of Sadie, it is played by Doc but he uses the standard folk 'Up' pick style. Like Bluegrass but no 'rolls' - sorta. This style is totaly different to 'down picking' as you are probably aware.

There are lots of exponents of the 'frail' downpick style - IMHO - Doc is the best :)

I do not play Bluegrass at all - I never did try too hard :) But I love the 'frail' and sing options that an open back banjo provides :)