Jed--
I can give you my preferences; I am certain that you shall receive others.

1. All brackets should be uniformly tight. Try to count the threads below the hex nut on a tight bracket, and tighten the loose nuts to that point (maybe a little past, so that they don't slip.
2. I attach the strap to the brackets. I have always done so. On a good banjo, such as a Deering, it won't hurt the brackets.
3. I have never found a mic/pickup which satisfied me as to sound. I always play into a stage mic.
4. I generally stay in G and use a capo. Onstage, if I'm going to play a tune which requires C tuning, I carry two banjos--one tuned in G, one in C (although I often retune on stage).
5. I always use spikes for tuning up, as I do feel that tuning the 5th string back and forth onstage affects the tuning of the other strings. There is a fine 5th-string capo manufactured by Shubb which you might consider, but since I use a thumb-over fret technique with the left hand when playing note-for-note fiddle tunes, I find that the spikes work best for me.
6. I buy special long-neck strings for my long-neck banjo. Some standard strings are long enough; some are not.

Hope this helps