Re #3, #6 and #7...yeah, recruiting is more challenging as low prestige schools. I think that's actually pretty realistic. Yeah, many out of staters won't visit and I think that Gary needs to tweak this a bit, but as you said, you still can land them (and your home visits are key). I like the increased challenges the come with recruiting at low prestige schools and I use brutal level. Possibly if reduce the level of recruiting to or toward EASY, more recruits will visit...not sure...have never tested that.
Re #5...you're absolutely correct...the home court advantage is pretty realistic. I have checked that for real life division 1 teams a couple times over the past few years and found home-cookin' is good in both real life as well as DDSCB.
Re #8...yes it's up to you to watch grades for your players and use study more/tutors as needed. But suspensions last for one term...so if they're suspended in the Sept-Dec time frame and then you get their grades up over 2.0 by end of December, they will become available in January. At least I believe that to be the case...I haven't had any players be suspended for grades for so long that I could possibly be wrong about this, but don't think I am.