--kernel is not ignored (for ethash and octopus), 0 is the default value which is "benchmark all of them and choose the fastest". You can set it manually with "--kernel 1" (2, 3, ..)
Wattage readout is what nvidia driver gives us. It isn't exactly what you'll see with a kilowatt but if the miner says the power consumption increased it is very likely the case, and vice versa.
Thank you.