Reflections on וירא

Two quick points:

• It is remarkable, that after Avraham's extended negotiation to save Sodom, or even one of the five doomed cities (see Rashi), his pleas are rejected. And yet, Lot whose every move is a negative converse to Avraham is granted this very same request at the end of the story! When fleeing the destruction, he asks to take refuge in צוער, one of the cities that had been destined for destruction, and he is granted permission. Last year, many of us learned that even according to the opinions that daily תפילה is only rabbinically mandated, תפילה בעת צרה, prayer in a time of crisis is מדאורייתא. I think this episode is a testament to the power of such a תפילה, and of desperation as a tool in our prayer arsenal.
• I was shocked to notice this year for the first time, that in the entire ספר בראשית, the biggest miracle might be the demise of Lot's wife. What a bizarre choice. Throughout the story of the אבות, and then the שבטים, Hashem pretty much stays on the sidelines (at least as reported directly in the pesukim), and the one instance that he chooses to really overrule the laws of nature are to punish a character supporting a supporting character? I have a theory, but I wonder what you all think. I often hear students & teachers of the 11th grade Jewish Philosophy course (wish I had one when I was in high school) discussing the unit on miracles, but I never actually heard what is taught. Maybe someone from there can help with this. Until the מן, I think every miracle in the תורה is punitive. Is there something we should learn from that?