Here are the answers:
1) Using the browser, yes, and it works fine.
2) Using the browser, yes.
3) Not sure if I understand what you meant, but let me say that I tried giving a name to the data model and using this name while binding the model in my view, but this could not resolve the problem.
The fact that no HTTP request hits the XS server to access the OData service indicates that for whatever reason my application is not starting the request or failing to build the correct URL.
Thanks Sergio!