I can tell you for a fact that it can't be done. Otherwise dropcatchers wouldn't need to fire off api calls constantly.
It depends on the TLD, some registries show exact HH:MM:SS drop times in whois.
You mean prior to dropping?
Might be but I assume he's asking about competitive TLDs as otherwise he would have no need to catch something which nobody else wants.
Yes.
Not sure what your point is here, but there are registries that show the exact time of drop and many domains are caught at that exact time, so it's not about "catching something nobody else wants".
Do you know any of these registries?