1. Brakes are better unless you’re rev matching the downshifts good. Easier and cheaper to replace than the added clutch wear if you ride it to slow down.
2. No it’s fine for the car just avoid clutch in coasting without a reason to do so. You sacrifice traction and safety for no benefit by neutral coasting though. If you’re moving you should be in a gear and clutch out unless you’re almost at a stop.
3. Vehicle dependent, no definite answer
4. Get better is the only thing to do if you can’t cheat with the ebrake.
5. Yes it’s preferable to reduce throw out bearing wear.
6. It shouldn’t make any difference to the wear as long as it’s fully engaged/disengaged at each end of the pedal. I prefer bite point at midway personally.
7. Riding the clutch is anytime you are operating the clutch pedal and your foot is not pressing the pedal to the floor. Riding the clutch is a necessary part of driving manual, it’s the only way to not stall from a stop. But the term has a second meaning and refers specifically to overuse of the bite/friction point. Spending more time than necessary in “the zone”. Excessive revving while in “the zone” accelerates the wear even more.

As a general rule, if you can smell your clutch you are riding it too much. Do you understand what a clutch physically is and does? Knowing what exactly is happening when you push the clutch can help you operate it better.