Tell them even getting it occupied wont help in many cases banks want historical rent rolls to see if rents are increasing or decreasing on the asset. 

If you ever get the chance to attend one of his classes do it.  50K will certainly get you at least one maybe two properties and you can compound off of those as your cash flow increases and debt decreases.

As long as there's a valid reason to do so and the goal is not for decreasing of tax payments.  

If inflation increases then fixed debts decrease in ~value.  

More rural lots could decrease sales and rental value.I think it pencils out and is worth researching further.

They offer certain perks like property tax decreases for your properties with them.

CA has 15.15% payroll taxes/insurances (all government collected) if you are just starting, the maximum value this could decrease to something like 12.5% or so if you have good record and volume.

In my area, we have not really seen a decrease in rural land prices in at least 35 years.

This will decrease the current value and ultimately my offer price.

Did you simply add a couple hundred a month to the payment or did you hit it with some lump sum payments to decrease the balance?