1) i just use selection handels for all the spine, shoulder, head, elbows, wrist. Ik for the legs. Loactors for the hand functions, and locators for the eyes.
2) A MAYA built in skeleton genorator=)..
3) Is good for a beginer to have some back up documention to help you along
4) I only use sliders for the facial animation, but it comes down to the person.
I like having as much control as I can over my charcter so I use mostly FK from the root up. I do use all IK for game animation.
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination, knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the world. (Albert Einstein)
https://www.artstation.com/kurtb