To answer your second question, yes. You can use the USB type C port [on the tablet] to successfully use an external hard drive using a Quality USB TYPE C TO USB 3.0 ADAPTER. I have done this and gotten the tablet to power and recognize my external hard drive.
Hi, I also got this to work by using the microusb port on the tablet via a converter (usb on the go cable that allows my microusb phone to connect to regualr usb flash drives etc). I couldn’t get hard drive to work on the full size USB ports on the keyboard. I didn’t try the USB C port, I don’t have the cable.