1. If you buy a leased licence ($85) you will have to pay $85 every year to renew the licence. If you buy an owned licence ($160), you have the choice to pay $30 every year to gain access to the members area.
2. According to
this thread, there is a XMB 1.9 Converter/Importer available
3. Depending on whether you would like to pay or not, there is always someone to help