- Nope. You can get everything as allies. Just remember that allies girls level will be adjusted to your higher level girl. But even lvl 33, an ally with 5 evolved max affection 5* or more girls is a good ally. But yes, the game tend to propose you some allies with almost the same level. To get better allies, you can ask here in the Friend ID list thread or use the raid bosses fight tofind good players and send them a request.

- You can get good equipment with mid-grade equipment gacha seeds. Just forget about the low-grade ones. To get them, just fight high level raid bosses. Don't mind if you do almost nothing, seeds are only depend on the boss level and not on the dealed damages.

- The best girls to evolve here are 6* and 5*. But due to your level, try the 4* and 3* first. They need less coins and less dragons. It's easier to evolve some low rarity girls to get a some solid units and then, focus on better girls.

- Picture is uploaded.

- It worth totally. Ardisia's skill is good and attack all enemies. It's usefull on event since you have a lot of 3 pest groups. Even on bosses groups. And anyway, you certainly could get another one before you could get another 6* (at least if you are totally F2P).

- It matter. Giving favorite item don't raise stats more but raise affection faster. For example, Ardisia loves toys. If you give her a small teddy bear, she will get +2% affection. If you give her a small slice of cake, she will get only +1% affection.
Also remember that your first 4* girl is already 100% affection and she is certainly stronger than your 6* (even more if you are a lucky guy and strat with St Paulia).


The best way to improve... I think it's focus on leveling your girls (do manyu daily missions) and affection rising. Also, strat to focus on lower rarity girls like 3* (with this event it's pretty easy to get them through the event gacha). Sure they are weak but they will grow faster and easier.
And above all, farm coins. A lot of coins. as much as possible.
Also, a really REALLY good advice, try to use eficienlty your level up. Leveling up refill your stamina, raid bosses point and gather point. Try to level up when there are empty. Try to waste as less stamina as you can. Don't hestitate to do less useful missions just to use stamina before level up (daily missions or present missions are really good since they cost a lot of stamina and give low exp).

And anther advice just for you, focus on the girls of the next event and next reissued event. They have the fabulous ability to give x1.2 battle skill activation for the whole team, based on girls affection. It work really REALLY well with Japanese Iris and Ardisia since they have multipe target skills.