It's these quiet moves in the middle of a ferocious attack that are the killers. The attack on the a8-Knight is just an irritating distraction, but the mere threat to equalise the material at once must put Black on at least an equal footing.

That knight has little chance of influencing the action right now. Would it be better to write it off and play either Nh3 or Ne2 in hopes of white being able to develop his last pieces?

Black's move is intended to get the rook into the fray, eventually, not to take the knight. But black could as well cashed BxR, and Bxc4 after (and if white goes KxB, Qxa2+ and take the pawn next move).

The beauty of this little combination is that owing to Black's control of c3 and e3, the d1-Bishop will be captured with check. Very neat.

The endgame in the line indicated above seems to be a 'gimme' win for Black. I don't understand 35...f6, though. Terminal would be 35...Rxe2 instead: 36.Rxe2 Nf4ch with 37...Nxe2 to come and RIP White.

Yes, why 35...f3 and not 35...Rxe2 36.Rxe2 Nf4+ followed by Nxe2??

There was an alternative?

A very deadly attack. The final position makes a fine impression: a small band of three pieces working so well together that White's entire army lies at their mercy.