mrtk311

1) 
Great video from Kyle explaining SIDs and STARs. I usually just look at the charts to check which one I should use. 

2) Check your FMC on the INIT REF page to check your REF speed for landing. I'm not sure why exactly that the nose drops down really fast in the sim, maybe it's like that IRL but I usually slowly bring the nose down once i touch down by reducing pressure on the yoke slowly. 

3) There's a basic way to calculate fuel in the tutorial for the NGX. You can use flight planning tools like PFPX, and such, but I use simbrief. It's a freeware flightplanner with detailed navlogs and stuff. http://www.simbrief.com/home/

4) 

Another video from Kyle, showing what cost index is, and it's uses. 

5) Redundancy, autoland, RNAV iirc, reduces workload, and maybe for both pilots. It's easier to set up 2 different NAV radios on the FMS and see them displayed on the ND, then having to switch quickly between frequencies when you're already busy handling the plane and ATC. 

6) I use http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/ and http://skyvector.com/ for my routes, and just type them into SimBrief, and from there I just key it in to the FMS route page. 

PS. If you get a chance, try out the tutorials if you haven't already. They have a brief explanation of SIDs and STARs and Cost Index.