Coming back on item #1. Conceptually it is not very simple to handle stock return. This will require implementation of RMA extension.
It is based on the policy how each merchant handle stock management.
If you cancel the order and stock is returned to the total count, and later you decide to complete the order. What should happen? There is a lot to validate here and it can be a mess.
Clean way to do this is implementing RMA and return process will handle stock return to total.

Any thoughts?

Data of new account form validates in file
public_html/storefront/model/account/customer.php method validateRegistrationData, line #174

you can remove check for city

Code: [Select]

if ((strlen(utf8_decode($data['city'])) < 3) || (strlen(utf8_decode($data['city'])) > 128)) {
$error['city'] = $this->language->get('error_city');
}or just comment.
Also you can open file public_html/storefront/controller/pages/account/create.php
and change 'required' => true  by 'required' => false

Code: [Select]

$this->data['form'][ 'city' ] = $form->getFieldHtml( array(
                                            'type' => 'input',
                                            'name' => 'city',
                                            'value' => $this->request->post['city'],
                                           'required' => true ));