I play 3...ed4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 myself.

Taking on c6 and pushing e5 creates problems for both players, not just Black.

The choice between 8...Ba6 and 8...Nb6 is really very difficult. Both moves are sound, and in both variations Black (and white) have a multitude of ways to play "solidly" or aggressively". Personally I have played Ba6 almost exclusively, but I believe Nb6 is by no means inferior.

But generally I believe 4...Nf6 is more enterprising than 4...Bc5, where Black limits himself to an ultra-solid approach, but leaves white with a very wide range of options.

Ahh, the so-called "Anand variation". Bad memories. I have played this once against WGM Kitty Grosar (she was by that time the gf of the ex-child prodigy Joshua Waitzkin, who watched the game with great interest), I got a fine unbalanced endgame (white bishop and knight, black rook and two pawns), but in a clearly superior position, I played too dogmatically, and eventually lost. After the game Josh was claiming white is (at least) slightly better, but this wasn't the case.

It's very playable, but not my favorite anymore.