Why are you using a belt?
I was horrificly put off by someone getting a bench and doing dumbbell flys into the squat rack
Seems legit
*chuckles* Glad you enjoyed them.
Knees out on dead lifting like this could be an indicator of hamstrings that need a bit of release: turning your knees out gives the hips more room without stretching your posterior chain (to the same degree).
If you find you are bending your knees, then that kind of misses the point as I am sure you know...