For 1), method #2 at this post (http://brown-betty.livejournal.com/284083.html?style=mine) looks worthwhile, with the caveats discussed there. Since I don't have much in the way of filtering, and since I don't have filters set up yet at those sites, it doesn't look like a huge problem. I'm about to try it and will do a post reporting on it.

I will try to figure out how to read everything. It will be a pain -- I have been spoiled by LJ's integration of RSS feeds -- but I can do it eventually.