Item 1 - not sure, Rick can answer that.
Item 2 - Your hosting provider sets up MySQL and PHP for you unless you have your own dedicated server.
Item 3 - No it does not matter in general. Though often having a fast connection close to where most of your clients are might be better, but the site can be hosted anywhere in the World.
Item 4 - No definitive schedule has been set that I'm aware of, but it is in the pipeline.
