Don't know if my insight will be useful, but here's what I did: i decided that my campaign would start with the PCs not having the Sight, and therefore not knowing about the Society and having to gain the Sight in game. The first mystery was about getting them to know each other, and with any luck m...
I've only run the game once (with a scenario of my own) and I'd say it's difficult for players to see their characters die, unless they behave in a very reckless way. Fear tests are not too risky, specially if the PCs are grouped.
I think it's meant to be like "pick one item between a) revolver, b) lantern or makeup, c) field kitchen or simple bandages”. Anyway you could decide the best way it fits your game, I don't think it will make much of a difference.
The book is based in Scandinavian folklore but there's a small section on how to adapt it to your region of choice. There are ghosts and werewolves but I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to tweak other vaesen to become vampires or else.