Umm, pretty much any kind of character is acceptable. Your only limit is your imagination and the Dungeons and Dragon's 3.5 ruleset!
Don't worry about it. I have a system that I picked up from an old pathfinder group I was in. But, yes If I calculate the experience the original way you have almost exactly 1000.
Yes, only if it big enough to note though. You will have to go out of your way to find magical items or certain special people. For example, there is a special quest that you unlock if you go to a certain place in the desert. That will give you XP and completing quests gives you XP too. And there are other things as well.
I am not going to force you to join each other, that is not the right thing to do in my opinion. But if you guys really want to group up, then you are going to have to make an effort to.
Oh that's cool I just was wondering if we were supposed to meet up or you were just planning to run it with each of us doing something different must be lots more for you to do that way but I'm fine with it.