1. Up until now, access into the Pandaria zones was cut off, isolating testing to the Wandering Isle. I expect we'll see more info on this in the near future. If I were to hazard a guess, I would guess end-level gear won't be replaced until you start running into lv90 blues, like we had happen in Cataclysm.

2. Like expansions before it -entering the Dark Portal at 58, and Northrend at 68- I think it's safe to assume you will be able to enter Pandaria as early as 83.

3. I would have initially guessed rogues (my reasoning would be to tie in more actual Ninja themes into the class with armor and weapons and such in the new expansion). However, we've seen a very small amount of rogue activity during the end of Cataclysm, so it's unlikely this will actually happen. I'd suspect they will follow traditional class trends--expect a lot of hunters, expect a number of mages, expect the odd warrior, but to a lesser degree shaman, and then rogues and priests certainly don't seem like they'll be as common.

Here are my assumptions. :) :

1. Don't really know for sure, but I'd expect the same as when Cata came out.

2. Again, I think they may follow the Cata Model at Entering the new zones at level 85.

3. My big guess would be Panda Hunter. I will definitely roll one.

Good questions though. Been in Beta and love it. ;) Actually this is my first WoW, beta. Got an invite for Wrath and Cata, but wasn't able to do the beta at that time, but I am full in love with the stuff I've seen so far and do enjoy the changed talent system. :)

Shinanji

Addendum: I just remembered that the AOE Looting mechanic is in BETA, so the mobs do drop loot, at least as far as Quest Items. I never paid that much attention to like equipment drops, etc.

I am having too much fun trying to break the game, that I don't pay that much attention to drops, unless something funky happens. In the FF XI/STO Beta's funky stuff happened all the time. hehe

Shinanji

http://mop.wowhead.com/items?filter=qu=2;minle=334;maxle=364;cr=3;crs=1;crv=0#0+2+1
Lowest BoE greens are iLvl 364, but have a level requirement of 85, so no.

1) Current item level on green MoP drops/quest items seems to be about 373 or 374. Loot is broken though, in that if you pick a green off a mob, it loses all stat bonuses and it's suffix.

2) You are required to be level 80 before going into Cata content. I cannot imagine they are going to only let you have to do three levels of that, and then jump into MoP at 83. Expect to be required to be 85 before heading in.

3) Keg totems. I expect a new shaman race to still be popular across the board.

In response to Item 3 - if the racials stay as is... ALL classes will be popular as Pandaren classes. :)

Personally, I'm jonesin' to roll a Gnome monk (seriously - how hilarious is that gonna be?). My Panda will be a Mage, cause I don't have a mage yet and I want one.

After that, the only classes I'll have left to roll are Rogue (blech) and Shaman (gonna roll one after I'm done leveling my Hunter).

"Personally, I'm jonesin' to roll a Gnome monk (seriously - how hilarious is that gonna be?)."

Probably as "hilarious" as a Gnome DK

Maybe less.

It is likely that you will need to be 85 to enter Pandaria. Or at least, to receive quests. You would probably be "summonable" by warlocks, but the quests won't be available to you. Since Cata was only 5 levels long and Mists is the same, it's likely they'd prefer you to wait to quest until 85.

One big reason is the power jump. The damage and health levels of mobs jump pretty significantly during the Cata leveling experience and a similar trend is likely to continue in Mists. A level 86 mob in Mists will probably rip apart a level 83 PC simply due to the likely large number difference.