What else do I need to know to use Blender for making ages?

[DreamBliss]

OK, I have Dusty's tutorials and the wiki pages here on making ages in Blender. But I still have some questions...

What the heck is PyAML and why do I need it?
Why do I need Python? Does it have to be version 2? Why?
What the heck is the Python Imaging Library and why do I need it?
Do I have to use Blender 2.49 or can I use Blender 2.67b?
What kind of issues may I run into building an age on a 64-bit version of Blender, or can I even do that?
Is there a 64-bit plugin of PyPRP? Can I request one be made available? Or would this not even work because Uru is 32-bit?
Is there, to the best of your collective knowledge, any migrating tutorials for Max users moving to Blender, and even more importantly, for Max age builders moving to building ages in Blender?

A few years ago I swore I would never return to Blender. But its free and now has a 64-bit version, and they have changed the interface. I thought maybe while I am building ages in Max I could also build them in Blender. Take my time. Slowly migrate over. Because Max is very expensive, and only those willing to acquire a copy by less than legitimate means could ever create ages for Uru that way. So any tutorials I make would have a limited audience. But there is an opportunity here to convert Max users to Blender and build the Uru community if only the right videos and resources were made available. So I thought I would look into it, see what I can do.

As always I appreciate all your help!

[Sirius]

PyYAML: used for AlcScripting, if I understood correctly.
Python: required to use PyPRP. It's also where PyYAML is installed to (as well as PIL: Python Imaging Library, used to convert textures).
Version 2 of Python: 'cause that's the only one compatible with version 2.49 of Blender.

Blender versions: PyPRP version 1 is compatible only with Blender 2.49. PyPRP 2 can be used on later versions of Blender, but has much fewer options available to create Ages.
Personally I model in 2.6x since the interface is better and it's baking and rendering faster. Then I export back to 2.49 to export to Uru.

Building on x64: should be doable, you just need a x64 version of Blender, Python, PyYaml and PIL (someone with better knowledge about these things might need to confirm that). Since PyPRP 1 is made of Python scripts, it will run on 64 fine. PyPRP 2 might not.
I have Blender version 2.6 64 bits, and Blender 2.49 32 bits.
But as far as I can tell, as long as you're using it for Age building (ie: no rendering that takes 50 hours), using a 32 or 64 bit version of Blender will be the same (even on low-end PCs).