This is hard to explain... So this might not make sense...

Im interested in joining a Knightly Order to get the Artifact quests. But Im confused about exactly how I would be qualified for the quest. The UESP has a Rep. requirements listed, but then it says its actually based on character level(?). Does this mean I can simply hold off and join them when I hit level 7 and be immediately qualified for the artifact quest? Or do I need to be BOTH level 7 and have a rep of 71?

Another question: If I were to take non-member quests from a guild, would the rep I gain count for promotions when I do eventually join? I would like to do this because of the "you can only have 1 promotion for a certain amount of time" rule. My plan would be to complete a bunch of non-member quests, and make sure I have the necessary skill requirements and reputation for the rank/services Im looking for. As a result, I would be guaranteed to hit my target rank after my first promotion in 30 days (or whatever it is).