Regarding your first question, I dug up this post from the dev tracker a while back. We will be allowed a one-time change of everything but our names so far, but there's a strong push to allow the changing of names as well.

For #2: Pandemonium is recruiting!

For #3: So far, you can obtain the 'luminary' tools for gatherers and crafters for doing a ton of work. There are also the crowns for various similar achievements that offer high stats. I don't know about these not being available in 2.0, but I know this storyline playing out in the Grand Companies won't be.