1. Knowing anything about tv tropes isn't really important. I don't really catch anything myself, besides this silly 'trope-tan' anime that gets mentioned from time to time. At most, you can just say that Durandal's throwing in various plot points that match to established tropes documented on tv tropes, but it's really no different from any bit of fiction also matching those tropes.
2. Not really, no. There are several arcs that take place in Hinamizawa, but they're not really that important overall and knowing the background to their story, while nice, is not necessary. Much of the stuff that's relevant to the story is something that Durandal added to the Higurashi characters himself (such as so-and-so being married, and how their relationship reflects back on the Haruhi characters). Pretty much anything important to know about Higurashi is summarized for the reader via talks between characters.
3. It's a harem story, unfortunately. It's matched up Kyon with almost every girl at this point, so chances are there's a pairing you don't like there.
4. It switches point of views, but it's not ever first person like the novels if I recall. Large chunks of the story take place from third person behind Kyon, but there are sections behind other characters such as Haruhi or Tsuruya.
2. Not really, no. There are several arcs that take place in Hinamizawa, but they're not really that important overall and knowing the background to their story, while nice, is not necessary. Much of the stuff that's relevant to the story is something that Durandal added to the Higurashi characters himself (such as so-and-so being married, and how their relationship reflects back on the Haruhi characters). Pretty much anything important to know about Higurashi is summarized for the reader via talks between characters.
3. It's a harem story, unfortunately. It's matched up Kyon with almost every girl at this point, so chances are there's a pairing you don't like there.
4. It switches point of views, but it's not ever first person like the novels if I recall. Large chunks of the story take place from third person behind Kyon, but there are sections behind other characters such as Haruhi or Tsuruya.
