I'd like to specify the bar length format consistently as 8'-4" rather than a decimal value based on the current units (8.33 or 100).

In RAM Elements, under the "View" menu, there is a "Nodal displacement" option that can be toggled to see how much displacement exists at a particular node (for example, it could display "Ty = 1.00 [in]"). Currently, depending on what font is used...