1. The point of no return for Chapter 1, is a quest called 'At a Crossroads.' Before you continue said quest, make sure you've finished all the other quests. If you look in the quest log, they've actually added a grey, shield-type icon in front of the quest name, if it's a main story quest that will advance the plot. Any optional quest will not have this icon.

2. Yes, the storage chests are universal, no matter which part of the game you're in.

3. You should be able to purchase or craft better trousers and gloves, but it's not really necessary. You will surely find more, either for free somewhere, or in other stores you may visit. Armor enhancements can only be attached to the main armor slot, and not boots, gloves, or trousers.

4. They had no consequences for stealing, or plundering peoples' homes, in the first game either. It's just a design decision, I guess.

1. Do everything you must before meeting Iorveth after the Arachas fight. Chapter 1 won't end right there, but you won't be able to do side-quests after that point.

2. Yes :)

3. To be honest, there's no need to craft any armour, you'll just keep getting better pieces. The only one worth buying is Vran armour in Chapter 3, so save those 2000 orens.

Not sure about stealing, quite a few of us were confused by people's lack of reaction. CDPR said in an early trailer that people will react, but they don't. Design choice, I guess, I personally wish the peasants at least yelled at me or ran away in fear or something.

1. In Act 1, finish side quests and do any trading or crafting you need before you escort Iorveth to the elven ruins. Act 2 has a number of interlocking quests; generally, finish side quests as early as you can. Act 3 has only a few side quests, and the point where you enter the endgame is clearly telegraphed.

3. If you have the Mage's Trousers and Herbalist's Gloves, those are good for now. There will not be anything significantly better until Act 3. Upgrade your crappy starter boots as soon as you have the chance, though.

Just out of interest, both of you mention the quest with Iorveth as being the point of no return for doing side quests, while I mentioned it wasn't until you reached 'At a Crossroads.' Which side quests, specifically, is it you can't finish once you've done that part? As far as I know, you're not locked out of either of them at this point (no matter the choice you make). Monster-hunting side quests are handed in to Louis Mere, for example, and he's still around even after you've finished that part of the main plot. So is the Troll, outside the village, and... hmm... maybe one or more people involved in the Poker/Fistfighting/Armwrestling quests become unavailable? Well, since I'm not entirely certain any more, I concede my previous post regarding this. Your way seems a bit safer.

SPOILERS AHEAD, clearly

You may not be able to finish Melitele's Heart, for example, if you don't have all the ingredients (sometimes Archas de-spawns before you're able to loot it) and the only one who sells those ingredients is Cedric, who disappears after the fight in the ruins. And if you give Iorveth his sword, well, you know what happens, I think a lot of characters become unavailable after that point.

Ah, right right. I see. :)

After you meet Iorveth, you have a choice of escorting him to the elven ruins or meeting him there later. If you escort him, you are then on the track to the Act 1 endgame. If you agree to meet him there later, you can still do other quests. But when you meet him again at the ruins, you are likewise on the track to the endgame: you will get "At a Crossroads" after the encounter with Letho.