I think we are still meant to speculate how much of what Maeve does is programmed and how much isn't. It's possible they'll keep that vague for the whole series since that is really the core theme of the series.

The Samurais were definitely meant to imply multiple parks. How much we will ever see of feudal Japan park is anyone's guess, but considering the bias against casting a ton of Asians in lead roles, probably not much (I bet it's much cooler than Westworld though).

Elsie is probably dead, Luke Hemsworth who knows (and who cares), and Man In Black is most certainly alive. Half of season 1 was his backstory, they aren't just going to kill him like that.