I can't comment on the first questions as they were for my daughter. Although this is her second sentence. The originals have been worn regularly and have held up well.
Pros
I was hesitant to buy these shoes because of the negative reviews. So far so good, I'm glad I decided to order them.
Cons
They sent me an elegant Women's Battle and not the classic black Converse like in the photo. Wasn't happy at all.