Hi KT,
The access allowed by those buttons are controlled by the Stage Definitions. Go to Maintain MSMP, then under Maintain Paths, select the path and the stage you wish to modify. Can't hide the button though, but they should be grayed out. Some of the related Task Settings would be Add Assignment, Override Assign Type. There might be more. I can't recall where I get the details from.
But again, the buttons are still there. The approvers might not be able to click it.
As for the remove add system dropdown, i'm interested to know the answers as well. We're planning the same, but so far no results.
Thanks
aNuar