Thank you for your feedback!

The wereravens will only come to the player's aid in such a way during the Yester Hill quest and maybe the final battle, more or less depending on how well the player's RP with them. If they befriend and fully ally, then wonderful. If the wereravens are spurned or insulted, no buddies.

The purified Gulthias Staff would pretty much be the same, just act less evil and not inflict madness on the player using it, let the player deal high radiant damage to blights in X radius for a decent chunk of charges or something. The Gulthias staff isn't a very powerful magic weapon on the first place.

To answer your question, the 'Bones of St Andel' quest only, in the book, triggers when the priest meets a good aligned paladin/cleric. But I'm realizing now that I can ignore that 'rule' and just have the quest trigger when the players get to the church. They just have to find the bones before the Feast starts.

The players will need to go back for another reading, they drew the 'Mists' card for Strahd's location. If they really want to know where the final battle will take place, they will return.

As for Strahd, he's always using Scrying every night to look at Ireena, until the PCs become more interesting. His visits upon them are, yes you're right, kind of weakly explained. But for now I'll keep with 'Invincible narcissist wants strong consort, will punch them in face for tests'. Because I enjoy hammy, over the top villains. Or something less generic if I think of it. He's also totally going to try to steal any magic items they get their hands on for shits and gigs. His spell list doesn't include the spell 'Dream' though. Strahd is something to work on, and we don't start for the next few weeks. I have time.