I'm still a bit baffled as to why you are going through all the trouble of applying for a visa from the embassy when all you'd have to do is turn up to the local government office where your husband lives and have them get the permit for you. In practical terms the information given to you by the embassy does not seem to be correct. The fact that you will be entering Switzerland multiple times before your get your visa/permit demonstrates that you have the right to enter and stay on a temporary basis (3 months) without a permit.

Your permit can most definitely be applied for "in country" as almost everybody else I've known in the same situation as you did not deal with their embassy, they dealt with their local community office.

The embassy route is likely to be more expensive, subject to additional delays and possibly other surprises. I've never been impressed by dealing with embassies anywhere - I try to avoid them wherever possible.

The reason that your passport is not required is because it isn't a visa as such (since you have the right to enter and stay on a temporary basis without a visa). It's a residence permit and will come as a separate little booklet that you are expected to carry with you at all times (which I don't).