1. He doesn't go down immediately. And he actually manages to strike and partially wound Kylo Ren. To me he showed alot of potential.
2. Yes
3. Finn and Poe appear to be becoming really good friends. That scene is actually not when they first meet up. When see other they run up and hug
and are very glad to see each other. Poe thanks Finn for completing his (Poe's) mission.
4. Unfortunately the Academy scenes were very minimal. Just the Luke/R2 scene,what we see in the trailer of the KOR, and Kylo Ren stabbing someone. Oh and Rey being dropped of at Jakku at like 5 years old.