i forget where but it was explained that the energy weaponry back at the main colony's (mars and Earth) wouldn't function correctly on Pandora and because of that they started using projectile weapons.

the amount of time to fly to a near by start is perfectly with in reason, it all ready takes the most powerful device known to man to move a single particle close to light speed. 6 years is perfectly reasonable.

"Still not convinced why Avatars aren't staggering all over the place within a Flux Vortex location."
ya ive got nothing...

"And that THAAANG there, lying in its just-grown pre-decanted state, that avatar, what PERSONALITY does it have? Is it autistic? Is it chemically sequestered off somewhere inside itself, drugged to inertia?"

its mentioned in the original 1994 script that the avatars would grown with a fully functioning mind if it weren't for the inhibitor of another beings thought present form its early stage to it full adult hood. once they arrive on Pandora the things pretty much a vegetable.

Norm logged hours in an "avatar" not the na'vi avatar though. they had avatars created form chimps and other animals back on earth and mars.