I wish people would stop being so conserned with rice and just do what makes them happy. I think thin spokes look great, some of them...and not only that, generally thinner spokes should aid in brake cooling by allowing more airflow.
1. You can get them front and rear but a) i heard its a pain in the ass and b) you don't really NEED them in the rear.
2. good big brake upgrades would be brembo or AP racing. 4 or 6 piston calipers and 13" rotors <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>
IIRC, 18" rims are required to clear calipers.
3. $2000+