1) The compiler plugin revamping it's already planned for post 1.0 version
2) I don't think that would be a good behaviour, however I think that Checklist can be better replaced with a Tree or a Tree with columns.
3) Submit a feature request about to make that a global option.
You can also submit another feature request about the defaults .deps/.objs because with Windows Explorer the files/dirs that starts with dot aren't allowed (you can see them but you can't rename and some other things).
4) It would be useless because: You'll always need a template telling to Code::Blocks if your project will be C++, or will be ASM, or PHP, or whatever (remember that C::B will support a lot of enviroments, like Eclipse) to set up the right plugins, etc.
You of course can make your own templates which is the best because you can customize whatever you want for most of your projects, just go to the C::B/templates dir.
5) I think there is already a feature request about this, search for it at sourceforge tracker, or if not, submit a feature request.
I hope that answer some questions