Seriously, it doesn't matter at all what the other guy is benching. Lifting isn't one of those things where everyone is the same, there's so many variables involved that the guy next to you could be lifting 250+ and have done half the work you did to get to 150. My friend (Of equal weight) deadlifts 4something and I know I'm working harder than he is to get to my 350ish mark. Just focus on you.
When I did Rippetoe's I was hitting the weights hard enough that I'd sometimes need like a 3-4 min. rest between sets (4 kinda rare, mostly on really hard days or with a new weight or something). Take at least 2min. though, you'll probably get a feel pretty soon for what you need.
I usually just take one of the bars and drop it down. I don't think I've ever heard of a gym not allowing DLs/cleans.
Good luck, man!!
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