1. Nope. Just have to be used to making 3d computer graphics.
2. I believe that 95+% of all shipsets have been made by single persons rather than teams.
3. Doga or Moray + Povray are the most commonly used programs. Doga tends to make rather similar looking sets though...
4. Nope. I am no graphics person.
5. Check the Important Info thread stickied at the top of the SE4 forum.