Getting an Intel iMac up and running from G5 software and data

Towards the end of this year I will be updating from a G5 iSight to whatever mid-model new iMac is available. I will be doing this solely because I want to work extensively with HD video. I have spent an hour or so checking these forums for potential problems and have come up with this scenario. I don't need instructions on how to do things, just an indication on whether this process will work, and if not, where the problems will be.
*INSTALLING OSX*
Install the latest OSX with all security updates to an OSX-only partition of the internal drive of the new machine.
*INSTALLING SOFTWARE*
1. Install the Adobe CS5 suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat and Premiere, though I may choose to use Final Cut instead of Premiere.
2. Install InDesign CS4. I'm pretty sure it is universal binary, but I'll have to check. I want the CS4 version of InDesign because I have a lot of files in CS4 format and don't want to convert them to InDesign CS5 format – I don't trust the conversion.
3. Go through every other piece of software I have (including Appleworks, but mostly shareware), and download the latest version, then install that latest version.
*CONNECTING TO EXTERNAL DRIVES*
All my data files are stored on four external firewire 400 drives (one original, three backups). To continue to use the same disks I will have to purchase a +Firewire 800 (9 pin) to Firewire 400 (6 pin)+ cable for each drive. To use them I will simply plug in the new cables, boot the new machine, and a minute later four external drives should appear on my desktop.
*CLONING OSX & SOFTWARE*
Use +Disk Utility+ to create a disk image of the entire OSX-only partition, and prepare the disk image for restore ( +Images > Scan Image For Restore+ ).
*RESTORING OSX TO AN EXTERNAL PARTITION*
Use +Disk Utility+ to restore the disk image to an OSX-only partition on an external drive.
*BOOTING FROM THE EXTERNAL DRIVE*
Set the +Startup Disk+ to the new OSX-only external partition, and restart.
*QUES 1*: Which of the above steps (if any) will be problematic on my new iMac?
*QUES 2*: If I buy a new Firewire 800 external drive and make it the first in the chain, but all the other disks are still 400, does that faster "first link" actually work faster? Or would it somehow be limited by the other "400" links behind it?
*QUES 3*: Maybe I only need to buy one new cable. An 800/400 from the iMac to the first disk; and after that use my existing 400/400 cables. Would that work?

Thanks for the comments, David. I didn't realize you could buy a hub. Which method would result in the fastest overall transfer of data (assuming several of the "400" drives may be being accessed at once): a hub or daisy chain? Or wouldn't there be any difference?
I partition all my drives to have an OSX-only partition and a data partition. That way I can restore OSX if I ever need to (usually takes about 5-10 minutes from a disk image) and I don't have to concern myself about the data. None of my data is ever stored on the OSX partition. I do this because if I'm in the middle of a project, the last thing I want to be involved with is OSX or software hassles. I don't fool around when I have hassles. If OSX or the software plays up, I just restore from a clean OSX.
Reminds me of that old joke. Newly weds are in a horse and carriage on their honeymoon. Horse plays up so the farmer gets out and says" "That's once". Horse does it again a bit down the track and gets told: "That's twice". The third time the farmer gets a gun and shoots the horse. Wife is in shock: "Why did you do that?". The husband responds: "That's once."
Anyway, I treat OSX as the farmer treated his horse – except OSX doesn't get any chances at all. I just put an ailing OSX or software out of its misery and restore. Thus the OSX-only partition.

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Message was edited by: jumbojock

{quote:} Last night, screen went black with white power sleep light on constantly. Could only shut down with 5-sec power button push. Attempts to boot from HD get as far as Loading OS X, then freezes at blue screen (why are they always blue?). Restarted holding down option key. Can boot from FW drive. Ran Disk Utility and DiskWarrior. After lots of "node" messages and catalogue this and directory that, DU now shows drive green and OK. However, on trying to boot again from HD, system hangs after "Loading OS X".{quote}
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