How much of a radar signal will this generate?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/USS_Los_...
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/USS_Los_...
To answer your first question, a significant amount of RCS for a capable commercial radar, not least of all because it is rounded for hydrodynamics, which is a terrible shape for minimizing RCS.
Second, I should have been clearer: the submarine stands to gain by operating their own radar rather than working from sonar alone.
Finally, submerged transits are mostly advantageous for security concerns.