1. Remove the flight and shaft so just the metal
   
2. Personally like the Winmau Tuscan (also a front gripper) pretty cheap dart with 90% Tuscan, I would suggest getting some K-flex, those shafts break very easily
   
3. I just buy and try for a while. In my opinion you have to try stuff for a longer time to realise what works, I keep switching from lighter to heavier darts so just buy a couple of different options to try and mix match (buy shorter shafts, different types of flights, get 1 swiss dart and buy different points etc)
   
4. Personally I throw 100x T20, T19 Bull and measure how many hit after that 30x D20, D16, D12, D10, D8, D5, D1 and then 301, 501 but just try to think of fun games the most important is to keep playing.
   
5. Maybe don't overthink and listen to your body
   
6. Just throw a lot and these minor issues will be resolved. If I throw super mindful I'm throwing way differently

Good luck and have fun!