Make sure your vmt is pointing to the correct vtf location. Other than that, I'm not sure what could be wrong...

Options > center view

There is a way to reset the camera. It's under one of menus at the top.

I can't say. I'm not exactly sure how the workshop votes are set up... It's sort of a mysterious process. Some items will just be showered with ratings and views while others will just get a few hundred. I honestly can't say why...

First of all: CONGRATS ON THAT PYRO ITEM!

Secondly, I'm not 100% sure if the workshop page is down, but I do know that yesterday steam had some server issues. So it could still be part of that.

Lastly, the files do not have to be named the same thing as the zip file or the main title.

I don't feel comfortable answering that.

As far as I know you can't... but I did make a guide on how to make good backpack icons.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=157717488

It depends on the popularity of the item. The team captain is much different than the killer's kabuto for instance.

I can't really say for sure...

If it looks ok, then go with it. Otherwise you can start adding things back in. Perhaps you want some phong lighting control or the rimlighting... The proxies are probably what are causing your problem.

Yeah.