I'm not at all sure what you just said, but just in case you mean there really isn't any a greater "cultural gap" whatever that even means I should say I agree.
OP, where can we see this gap that isn't there?
I'm like that - at the bottom of it all - I accept no evidence of anything (or at least not what people in general count as evidence; must be annoying) On the other hand - I never ask others to present evidence, whilst you hardly talk of anything else. So you see the contradiction.
I would think he did do them himself. To say "by himself" you would have to be more specific about what you mean by it. I would not say he does anything "by himself" he has tons of help.
We shall never know. They keep alluding that they live whereabouts but nothing farther than that. Could it be it is convenient to remain in the whereabouts?