When you are starting off you need to make sure the engine is up to operating temperature before hammering it. Whether you do this in your driveway or by driving sedately on the streets is up to you...

On returning home I would suggest driving sedately for 3-5 minutes before getting to your driveway - at which point you can then turn the car off without worrying.

If you are giving your engine a good work out right up to when you park then I would suggest idling it for a while.

Turbo timers are unnecessary if you take a bit of care, in my opinion. I don't really like the idea of having the car running without me in it either.

Out of interest, this is the method I used on my S15, and now on my GTI as well

To answer the original questions:

1 - There's a lot of various arguments for and against a drive in period. Some say you should take a lot of care whilst others say its good for the engine to open it up. Personally I found myself taking it easy in the Golf for a good while regardless as I got used to the power delivery and handling of the car. I don't really have a definitive answer here but I'd guess that after 500k or so the engine has a fair idea what is happening and can probably be pushed a bit.

2 - No idea on this one....cars have fuel filters though right? If you drive until the petrol light goes on there's going to be enough petrol in the tank to get you to a petrol station I'd say...