Heh, ya I know the pain of being red. I have a great story about that. On the night I asked my girlfriend to marry me (she accepted), on our way home from the resturaunt I was pulled over for not having a front plate on. Now get this, in order for the pig to pull me over he had to go to the next light down the street, do a U turn, pass the bunch of traffic behind me, than pull me over. So I know how bad the color red is. Luckly enough, when I went to take care of the infraction, the people at the station thought it was bullsh*t, and I got off the hook for only $10, when it should have ran me about $40 I think.
Onto the questions

, I got my paint job done at earl schieb, it was a pro 4 kit, and I did the body work on my own. The pro 4 kit runs about $720, but I got a deal of $425 for it. I spent the rest of the insurance cash replacing my muffler, O2 sensor, cat converter, and clutch. I am not to too sure about the price for the rust removal, if its not bad, I say just do it yourself.
I wouldnt do paint for the life of me. I complain enough just doing the touch up paint for my car

Plus here in L.A. it is easier, cheaper, and better to take it in to the shop than doing it yourself.