1. It's 100% practice. If you're a good tank from the jump, you're likely coming from another MMO. You will likely be pretty bad at first and improve from there. Don't go in expecting to make perfect decisions, but if you do then know that you're doing above what the average player would.

2. You usually want to plan your CDs ahead of time, but they're most useful at the start as that is usually when the healer will be DPSing (if not the whole way through).

3. Mobs facing away from party.