1. It's been a while, but I believe level 10 should be more than enough to start the missions. Even that may be over kill.

2. I'd stick with the shops at first (if you can find them. I know, windurst is a pain in the ass to navigate) but later on it's easier to buy equipment from the Auction House, and if you're willing to invest the money, it can be an even better thing to craft your weapons and armor yourself.

3. You mean to sarutabaruta? Yes, that's windurst low level area designed for for new players, and lowbies. Although don't wander too far. If you mean outside of that starting area. It's possible, hell you could even run to jeuno at level 1, but it's not practical. You should wait at least until level 10 to venture away from teh starting areas.

4. You buy spells from shops, or the AH.

5. Yes. You should already have a map of Windurst and some of the areas surrounding it. but there are also map vendors in each city that sell maps to the areas beyond that.