> After recording ends, how would you "watch" the game?

Launch XCC Game Spy Player.

> Would you need to keep YR running?

No.

> Would it be using your recorder program? Would it be like observing a game, or like in your pics just an AWACS map with tagged dots?

Like the images.

> How big do the recordings get in size?

Depends on lots of factors, but < 100 kb for short games.

> Does this method involve polling the map every some millisecs and recording (perhaps text style?) all that's on it?

Yes, but not like 'polling' the display.