So Apple TV 2 eh?

OK I have read a bunch of threads on here and have some specific questions.

Bascally, what I want is to watch TVNZ, TV3 and YouTube on my TV without having to have my laptop connected to anything or on.  

OK, I know there are plenty of devices that and options for this.

I have an Xbox 360 but to use that as a media extender the laptop has to be on, and at best connected, so that kind of defeats the purpose.

Alright, Blu-Ray spinning and USB media playback aren’t core needs. This is because I don’t have big enough TV for the Blu-Ray quality to be a deal breaker and I don’t have a massive content library for USB playback, with the new 3 strikes law (refuse to call it the ‘Skynet’ law) I am now unlikely to get one. This means a Blu-Ray player (PS3 inc) or WDTV et al probably aren’t for me.

I also don’t have $600 (more like $1000) burning a hole in my pocket so HTPC is out.

So, Apple TV2 + xbmc seems the best option for me.

So here are the ATV2 + xbmc questions:

Is there a ‘better’ program for jail breaking the ATV2? The main ones appear to be Season Pass or GreenPoison (think I got that right). Seems to be some people use one some the other, personal preference?

A ‘tethered’ jail break means that once you jail break the ATV2 if it is turned off it need to be reconnected to the computer again. However, is there any reason to run off your ATV2 once it is set up? Apart from moving house or something like that? This doesn’t seem to be such a big deal. Is there more too it than that?

With TVNZ / TV3 On Demand where to I get the plug ins that make these work? Do I need one for YouTube?

Does the ATV2 + xbmc support anything better than the supplied remote for entering data? I am thinking of typing in search terms etc. If so what?

What is the current deal with NetFlix and Hulu? Will the ATV2 + xbmc connect to these sites over WiFi or does it need to be plugged in or is being plugged in just better?

It seems VPN is required, I’m on Telstra, I have read the DNS threads and don’t need to cover that ground here. Is it relatively easy to load whatever drivers/ software/ firmware needed onto the ATV2 + xbmc for VPN? Does your computer, in my case laptop, need to be connected or on for this set up or to work? Connecting it all up for set up is OK but the goal is something connected to the TV which doesn’t need the computer to work.

As far as VPN goes I am going to follow this http://nztechpodcast.com/how-to-setup-netflix-in-nz/ anything more I should know? Again lots of threads, lots of different ideas.

As I understand it the ATV2 + xbmc won’t play back from USB is this right? But it will see files on a computer or NAS on the same network and play those. Will it do this wirelessly or does it need to be connected?

What is an ATV2 + xbmx like over a WiFi network generally? One connected to main TV would be OK another WiFied to the bedroom set would be awesome.  

Anyway, thanks very much to the community for reading all of that. I know it may seem repetitive but a lot of the ATV2 + xbmc threads seem to contradict each other or go off topic. Sometimes into discussions of ‘traceroute’, anybody on here should read Halting State by Charles Stross; you’ll love it.