[Sirtel]

Congrats on your new Kobo!

1. Usually patches come out soon after an update, but at the moment they're quite a few versions behind, due to the patch releaser having been extremely busy for a while. It's still possible to patch the latest firmware version, but some patches might not work. Hopefully we'll get back on track in the not too far future.

Yes, you can downgrade if you want to.

2. Kobo Utilities and KoboTouch Extended

3. Not really. You can always downgrade.

4. I suggest you use your new Kobo for a while and if you find you want to change something or have more questions, ask here. You might have a clearer picture of your preferences and dislikes then, as people often want very different things.