1. In all likelihood, yes. It's probably part of the setup for 5.0's events. I'm personally betting on an attempt to set the political scene for events going into Mists of Pandaria.

2. Horde are also getting major developments in the books not in the game. See: The Shattering and Twilight of the Aspects for object examples of important Lore-related Horde-side stuff you never see referenced anywhere in-game.

3. Because Garrosh Hellscream is a suppurating orc-supremacist dick. A suppurating orc-supremacist dick that's going to get a lot of his own people killed for the sake of his own Daddy Issues.

4. The conflict in Ashenvale was a pretty much a realistic resource-based conflict, combined with a cultural clash that neither side is willing to let go. Bombing baby druids because Gary H wants to get his war on? That's pretty damned evil by any objective measure. Similarly, there's no good side of plague-bombing Gilneas and Hillsbrad, legitimate tactical/strategic objectives of war notwithstanding. Mind you, I think the Alliance is indulging in some pretty horrific "fog of war" related atrocities, as well, and I suspect that's part of the thematic point. No one comes out of war with their hands clean, standing on unassailable moral high ground. I just think that the Horde is looking much, much more hypocritical given the weight Horde culture gives to adhering to an honorable warrior ethos. There is no honor in the murder of innocents.

5. I don't think the Horde and/or Garrosh Hellscream is bad/wrong/evil in attacking Theramore, to be honest. Theramore, by virtue of its position as the only major Alliance port within pragmatic striking distance of Durotar and its function as a debarkation point for the Alliance forces assaulting the Southern Barrens, is a legitimate tactical and strategic target. It would be foolish to allow that resource to remain in Alliance hands once the current conflict heats to Fourth (or Fifth, I suppose) War levels.

6. Sink the foundation of the city. *The Shattering* basically indicates that, like New Orleans, Theramore effectively lies below sea level. Raise the seas, lower the ground level, two or three hurricanes, invade via air while they're reeling from the natural disasters.

7. Isn't this already happening in "Wolfheart?"

8. I'd like to see Kul Tiras return in-game as a major political power.

9. I suspect that Arathi didn't get a major overhaul in Cataclysm because it will become a front-line war zone eventually. Sylvanas obviously intends to push the Alliance below the Thandol Span. This is the natural place to stage a pushback against her.

10. Because Blizzard has never actually killed off a faction leader. I don't actually see them starting now. Assassinating her character? That I can see all too easily.