Welcome to the forum, and a new way of thinking.
As you will fine out as you read through and adopt some of our ideas you will find that you will start to think as see things differently. It is this skill that will save your life when you need it. Think of this as a lifestyle and gradually change into some new ways.
As you start to build up your kits and everyday carry, you should start playing with items and researching how to use them one by one. Even buy 2 so you can learn with 1 and have the other item stashed ready for when you need it.
That way you are not carrying useless items around. By useless I mean you are carrying around things that you cant use and you would be better carrying something you can use. So learn as you go.
You can be the most equiped person in the world but your mind is your tool that makes use of them.
Start with some good books (see some recomended from the link from the ETS home page) and read how things can be used, and also read what other people have done to survive in different situations.

As for your questions, I live on the other side of the world so I cant give any suggestions about suppliers, but here goes:

Think of it as a straw. For example poke it into a crack in rocks, you can drink water that might be trapped.
Then think of other ways you might be able to use it, like slipping it over an electrcal wire to insulate it while making a repair.

Try and get hold of a local map. Then use the compass from where you are standing to point out local land marks. Then go to somewhere you are unfarmiliar with and try the same thing.
As you try this more and more you will build up a mental picture, and new navigation skills. After working out the directions and layout, you will be able to navigate by compass directions to get places when you cant see landmarks to navigate by. Picture standing out he front of your house in deep fog/smoke and trying to escape, no landmarks to use.

A knife is one of the most basic tools. Think of trying to use your kitchen if you had no knifes. With a knife you have the first tool that you can start to make other tools or fashion other items into usable objects. Again start with a good book. to get more ideas and build up some skills trying some things out. ( including first aid if you slip <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

It alows you to tackle larger trees etc that the knife wont handle. Used by either slipping the fingers in the rings and pulling it the wire across or cut a small flexible piece of wood to slip the rings in and you have a hacksaw type of saw.

Any wire can be used for making repairs etc. but brass or stainless steel wire is easier to use for a snare, and wont corrode as fast as steel wire.

I would read some books and get some good advice about this before using it in some situations. Basically a disinfectant that can be used to sterilise water, but make sure you know how before trying.

If you dont know the answers they are not lame.
Lame would be getting all this stuff and not asking the questions. Its good to see that you are starting to prepare and ask the questions.
Your PSK is a small collection of usful items that could be hard to get when you need them.