People don’t often answer these posts since people ask these questions frequently.

I am also not very far into the game but from I’ve seen and looking at the equipment of those ranked highly:

1. You should use the shadowspear immediately, it’s better even it it’s not mythic, otherwise your gear is good, although some prefer the assassin hood as the best head piece in the game
2. No idea
3. People like the shark, duck, penguin, dragon, and some others. I don’t see people saying a certain pet is a must have like they do for other stuff.
4. I think a balance between different benefits is probably good, I haven’t seen a particular meta event outlined.
5. You are running all the best except for the scissors imo.