Welcome!

Just to answer your questions:

1) 5/8 or 6/8 is fine. I started on a 5/8, but either size is good!

2) It really doesnt matter, as long as its sharp.

3) Exactly right. Just strop and go.

4) The price of the razor wont make any difference to how long there is between honings, assuming you buy a good make. A poor make wont take/hold an edge for long.

How long you get between honings depends on your beard toughness, the care you take of the razor (drying it etc...) and whether you damage the edge with incorrect stropping or by dinking it on something.

5) Nope, not at all. Just get a good make and ensure its shave ready!

6) No. If you're going to learn with a straight razor, get a straight razor and use it. Shavettes and straights are subtley different, and theres no point in sinking the cash into a shavette if what you really want is a straight.

7) All you need is a razor, strop, brush and soap. All the other stuff like shaving mugs and balms can come later, but those four things are all you need to get going.

8) That SRD set is a great starter kit! It'll be a good way to go.

9) The SRD kit is a great place to kick off. The only other advice I'll add is stay away from eBay for now until you know a bit more about the various pitfalls involved. And dont worry about hones and honing yet; Learn to shave, then learn to hone later!

Good luck and keep us posted!