Happens quite frequently. You can bid for destinations or for consecutive days off. 4 to 5 is easy at least once a month, 6 to 7 is no exception, though not too often.
Depends on the destinations you get really. Fly 4 long hauls and you ll have 15 days off a month.
However, don't come here with a commuting mindset, come here to relocate, and it will be a bonus whenever you can get home.
(quite honestly I don't even bother, too much fun around here. Loads of different areas and countries to explore)
Easy for Europeans, Americans and South-Americans are less lucky. For us, all it takes is a 5 hour flight in business/first with a one hour zone difference, and you are home.
As a general rule, they DO start to care for their people. I had about 4 requests since I joined about a year ago, and all were granted. Believe me, they wouldn't have been granted in Europe.