1. Before college i was eating dinner about 8 at night. Dinner at johns starts at 6, ends at 7, but ppl are still in the dining hall till minimum of 7:15. Bottom line is that u'll probably have to eat earlier than you did, but u get used to it. By a few weeks in i was getting hungry aroun 5:45, its just a matter of habit.
2. Yeh true you pay for all your meals, but ppl go out all the time to eat. Its a small sacrifice in the scheme of things. Also, at least at johns, what u pay for includes all the formal dinners with free, yes free, alcohol and some generally decent food.
3. Catered food = not brilliant. But its mostly edible. I have found a soft spot in my heart for fish friday. (very much kidding). At least at johns if u dont like it, there is always pizza making facilities, the salad bar, u can buy something at the 'Tav'(ern). It would be a shame if u knocked back the awesome times catered colleges provide just because the food isnt 5 star.
4. Never lived in a non-catered place so dont really know. But i guess logic says the time u would spend cooking every day, u could be doing other things.
Hope this helps out