[Ragnarok]

1. If I take over a position in a current game, do I have to use that current position's race file. And if no, is it fairly easy to find out about the race choices before making a commitment to the game?

Yes you have to use their race file that they set up. No way of getting around this.
As far as how easy it is to find out what it is I don't think you can without either joining and seeing for yourself. Or by having the game host look into the players game and tell you.

2. I want to get more use to game mechanics. What are the typical galaxy and option settings. I want to make a race that is applicable to common steeings. IE, it does no good to design a race with 5k starting points, if most PBW games use 0 points.

There are no typical galaxy options. Each PBW game varies as far as size, warp points, type of galaxy and so forth. Be ready for anything.
I suggest making a new race for each PBW game you play in. If you use the same file for all PBW games players will get used to that one and be able to defeat you faster. Also it's hard to set up 1 single race file for all games. Some games are 0 racial points, some are 5K. Some 2K, some 3K. It all depends.

3. Do most PBW players choose racial techs, or do they leave those for the AI to make it more challanging. (A PBW game that has no human player racial tech choices might be interesting). 3.1 Also what impact does "race experience" have on the game. (I have not tried too hard for a search on this yet, but asking the question might be easier than a long hunt for it).

Most players choose racial techs yes. When in a PBW game there are very few games with the AI so no point in only allowing racial techs for the AIs.
Race Experience does nothing for the game. When Aaron first made the game he was going to have Race Experience have an effect on the game (faster construction for example) but he took it out because humans coule exploit the AI very easily by played one race ALL the time and getting the EXP points up and getting godly bonus'

[quote]4. OT: I hate "real player" because of it's practices. I have windows xp. Does that, or a different (free)program have the ability to play "real player" files? I tried to view a news article that was a real player file type, and couldn't without getting the RP dl, which requires a credit card. And if yes, where do I get that program or how do I use xp to do it. I don't know about such computer things.[/quote

Uhh, I have no idea.