The tactical vest you can buy from the merchant is exactly the same as the STARS jackets worn by the main characters in the Remake of the original Resident Evil for the gamecube.

When you kill a boss or a mini boss, if they fade away after they die you won't face them again in the game, if their corpse remains on the floor, there'll be another encounter with them. (The garador, el gigante). Submitted by Ictoabu