ad 4: you can create a bookmark, edit its "location" and "keyword" accordingly. "%s" is the placeholder for the text you type. E.g.
Location: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%s Keyword: g
Usage: Type "g whatever" in the URL bar to launch google search for "whatever".
You just need to extract the minimal URL and place "%s" accordingly. That way you can create multiple ad-hoc search engines, like "so foo" -> google search "site:stackoverflow.com foo" etc.
re 4: I do have the keyword 'g' set up but it is still easier to not type g[space] everytime. And yes there is ctrl +k but it is still easier in chrome with just one location.
For the more general case, I agree that firefox can be a bit annoying about treating any address with a : as some kind of protocol. It occasionally bytes me when doing things like trying to google a Python error via copy-paste.
Not sure how I feel about that typo
1) Signing into Chrome is easier and more intuitive then syncing with a code. Also having your extensions is nice.
2) The Inspect element and console are easier to use in Chrome. (Copy as HTML, etc)
3) I seem to have to click on a YouTube video twice for it to pause in Firefox.
4) Typing search queries in chrome is easier. For example in Firefox, you can't just type define: word to search Google for the definition of 'word', as it complains it is not a known command. I don't often use URL commands and think you should access about:config from somewhere else.
5) In Firefox when you scroll with the mouse you scroll too far per mouse tick.