1) Not needed at all. You're naturally going to find your way there eventually, the lack of things to do in the immediate area is all the compulsion you need to move along.
2) I suppose the damage tick could happen after you complete your turn.
3) The wand is specifically a reward for defeating the turtle. Most enemies don't drop stuff you wouldn't find, so I don't mind an occasional exception. In real life, lots of inedible stuff can be found inside the bodies of sharks and other animals.
4) The game is already dropping less loot and encouraging more shopping. As long as the items are normal quality and not magical, then I see no problem at all with getting some stuff. Especially with how expensive skill books are now.
5) Nothing stops you from hiring a thief or a warrior to smash the chest open. You can even hire a temporary person you have no intention of keeping to unlock stuff, then kicking them out. Otherwise just accept that if you refuse to take Thievery on any character, there will be some locks you can't open.
7) Save often.
If you're going to continue to reply to this thread, please increase the numbers instead of starting from 1 again, it makes it easier to reply and find the specific point which is being replied to instead of having to search for which "3)" is being referenced.
