Lead Developer
#2 won’t change in the next version – you always have to add a featured image if you want images with your blog excerpts.
#1 will change, but you can still change the options, just go to your blog page while in the Customizer and the section will show up.
Documentation: http://docs.generatepress.com/
Adding CSS: http://docs.generatepress.com/article/adding-css/
Ongoing Development: https://generatepress.com/ongoing-development