1. Luxory position.. i'm buying the motherboard anyway for my server so.. might as wel use the new one in my HTPC
otherwise i would have settled for a better heatsink indeed (in the worst scenario because i don't have issues with the gpu at all)
I'm certainly not recommending to swap motherboards just to get a revision 1.1.
2. Again.. the BE-2400 goes to the server.. Knowing this new information might as well buy a HT 3.0 capable one for the HTPC instead
Also i have (little) hope it might boost the (hardware) deinterlacing - which is not flawless at the moment. I've read it should help but i don't have definite proof.
3. Yes definately good options also (still researching) but i read about some problems with these processors concerning HT 3.0.
About the cooling: dunno really, just a fear i have with having more power, more heat.. and i don't want the case fans to go rawrrr...
on a sidenote: i'm certainly no hardware expert (personally and as a developer i'm more of a software guy) but i do tend to research a lot on my interests (like i'm having my HTPC phase right now lol) on as much sources as i can and hands-on experience when i have the chance.
edit: sorry for the many edits i'm a little bit impulsive on that button