Predictions of the economic shift with Crimsonwood?

The Gear Portal was there before the door was added, so I would assume it is linked.

The white floor tiles are the same as NLC town map, the other tiles are all the Jungle ones, so I'm not sure what second brick path you are talking about. The little hill at the far right of the map certainly looks like there should be a portal atop it.

If a Thief were trapped, they would be in trouble. a warrior could always booster themselves down to 1 HP and then get hit.

 Follow the arrow

I wouldn't worry about the right hill. There's one that looks similar to it in the far right of the El Nath marketplace.