To answer your questions:

#1 Yes it should automatically detect your network connection.
#2 For info on software included see here.
#3 Yes
#3b Boot from dvd not sure.
#3c You have to close the session to make any disk bootable. You would have to remaster the ISO image to make changes so you should do a HD install if you want to add more software.
#4 C, C++, perl, java, and numerous others.

BTW it is spelled linux.