ScottyMB
Welcome to PPRune Wannabees forum.
This site is fortunate in that there are many experienced commercial pilots who will help you get your foot on the first rung of the ladder; there are also a lot of sciolists (see the bottom of the page) who will push their own particular preferences.
This may have been discussed in the past, but as a new member to the forum, I do not know
However all the questions you ask have been asked and answered many times before - and quite recently! So I suggest that, in addition to the answers that have already been given, you spend a few hours reading through the 'stickies' above and use the Search function. You will find your answers and also learn a lot about the commercial aviation industry!
Good luck
HWB