I like a 40BB buy-in minimum, because that's already very short and people are unlikely to know how to play such a short stack properly. If they can't even afford that buy-in, the probably don't belong at those stakes at all.
I don't like a 200BB max. At my 25c game, most people buy in for $40 and $50. Occasionally a $20, occasionally a $100. Had both, last night. Played just fine, as usual. Informal max for first buy-in is 400BB... I say informal, because there's no rule, but nobody has bought in for more than that.
If have no limits on re-buys or top-ups... and it doesn't slow the game. Cash on the table plays, as long as it happens before the first bet and before the cards are looked at. Someone who loses a big hand usually calls a verbal rebuy or top-off and is reaching into their pocket as the next round starts to be dealt... but that often reminds someone else that they've been doing poorly, and I'll often get two top-ups at once. I can take my time getting chips for them, though - odds are, they're not going to be playing the next hand, anyway - and if they are, I just buy their chips from a big stack who's out of the hand, and keep the cash still on the table. Then the player have their chips and I can take care of getting chips in for the cash at my leisure (as soon as I fold, or on the next deal, or whatever.)
One night, at my 25c game, I decided to limit myself to 40BB buy-ins and only rebuy when busted. I was six buy-ins deep before I stopped running bad! But it was kinda fun.
I don't like time limits... and don't have one. Been hosting for years, never had a hit-and-run. It's possible, but never had one. Can also have the opposite... someone comes for the first time, buys in big, gets wiped out quickly and leaves. Also never had that happen. Maybe I'm just lucky. Maybe it's because I don't hang out with and invite assholes. I've had people leave on short notice, usually after a phone call from an S.O... but most people declare when they're leaving some time in advance, just as a courtesy - and so that I'm ready to cash them out - and, sometimes, to give other people a chance to talk them into staying longer!
Now, straddles...
I allow straddles and re-straddles (x2 and x2), but some nights there are none. Other nights there are many. Depends on the mood and the players. Some people dislike them, but quickly learn to tolerate them when someone points out that it's a bad play for the straddler - the straddler is paying an extra double-blind while out of position. The only way it profits the straddler is if it really tilts someone... which is, of course, why many straddlers will never check if it limps around to them. That tilts everyone. Other than the benefit of tilting people, it's all -EV for the straddler. So it's really just for fun... When players get that (which most do, eventually), they let the donk do their donking, or perhaps even get in on the fun themselves.
The only person really to be truly annoyed by straddles is a big blind who hates straddles who finds that the person to their left is going to be straddling all night. It means they'll never get to check and see a flop. The easy solution there is a seat change. Make sure people know that it's kosher to ask for a seat change... that BB can move, or the straddler can move, or ask them to separate when the next player arrives... it's not that hard. The straddler has never minded being moved... they're usually doing it for fun, not to piss off the BB specifically, and moving allows them to have their fun and not irritate their friends. (That's not to say they won't willfully straddle to irritate the hell out of an OMC at a casino, but the home cash game is more social.)
