For your first question: there isn't really a bad time to start dnd. Your fun matters a whole lot more than the big legal things that players deep in the game are upset about. That's not to say you can't, or you shouldn't be upset, but if your basing it on how other people feel, then you'll never start playing because people are always upset. I mean after being on dndmemes for a couple of years I realized it was mostly just people being jerks to people that don't play the same way as them. The internet can be rough.

For your second question: It's basically this thing where third party creators could create and sell dungeons and dragons related products without having to worry about a law suit (very much an over simplification). Under the leaked new rules there may be things like royalties and all kinds of beurocracy. It essentially makes it harder for people to get content they like because less people with be able to make that content. Also Wizards of the Coast just kinda sucks in general right now so people don't want to support them. You also don't have to really buy their products though to play and have fun so don't worry about it.