editing 24p, 24p adv, and 60i footage

Hello,
I've spent hours perusing this and other forums, so I'm not right off the turnip truck and have certainly looked through the various posts for similar issues, but I'm hoping to get some answers to two questions. Thanks in advance for any help offered.

First, I have shot almost all the footage for my documentary (using a panasonic dvx-100 or 100a) using the standard 24p mode. Before the very first shoot for the film, I was perhaps erroneously advised to "definitely" shoot in 24p-adv. mode, leaving me with 4 hours of footage that I now need to bring in to my 29.97 timeline, no big deal according to everything I have read, and I understand that footage will need to be rendered. I understand that the movement may be jittery at best, but since the footage was of an African dance class and not an interview, I'm hoping that I am not royally screwed, so to speak. Please let me know if there are any other post-production tricks I can use to smooth out this footage should it prove, well, unreasonably stutter-y.

I am also going to use some footage shot on a non-24p DV camera, importing it at 29.97 as well, and while it will clearly not look like the 24p footage, I'm using it as "archival" material so hopefully I will be able to use all of these three kinds of footage on the same 29.97 timeline. Hit me over the head if I'm wrong.

Second, I have had the use of a Sony DSR-20 deck for a few months now but have been afraid of and/or confused about all the final cut pro settings, and lo and behold, the person who generously lent me the deck is now taking it back. Rats. Should I spend the money to rent a deck or use my camera to capture/log my 80+ hours of footage? Seems too much to be using my DVX-100a as a deck. I know, I know, should have gotten my act together while I had the deck at my disposal. Spilt milk, I guess.

Thank you again for all the amazing info here, and for any responses that may come to help me.
ste