This page on delta.com will answer a lot of your questions about the delayed baggage:
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...r-damaged.html
When my bag was delayed for 48 hours a couple of months ago I had no problems having the bag delivered to me some distance (1 1/2 hours away) from the airport and receiving reimbursement for the cost of clothing I had to purchase because of the delay. I did not request compensation for the baggage delay; I considered the new clothes to be sufficient compensation.