(2) Any thoughts on Knowledge/Profession skills that might be useful to a caster in your world?
Aside from the obvious Knowledge: Arcana, possibly a Knowledge of History, especially the Age of Magic, and the Age of Sorrow, might prove handy. As far as Professions, many wizards work as scribes, or advisors, or investigators for diverse people.
(3) Spells. Any spells past the standard two-per-level via prior adventuring, or only via the standard pay for a scroll and scribe it method?
Aside from your starting array of spells, and the free two per level above first, you also can purchase spells for 200gp x spell level as per the PHB.
Personal or Unique spells are good in theory, but we'll need to discuss details.
(Edit) (4) Magical Item Crafting. Do we have a minor amount of XP to spend? (A 5th-level wand of missiles would be nice for those sticky situations, as a thought.)
You might have to settle for the 3rd level version, since the 5th level one is over the 3,000 gp per item cap, but you do have 500 xp to spend on making items if you have the required feats.
Just as a note, for those that do not make items, you will have the 500 xp added to your characters as well
LL [/B]