WELCOME LEE!Give my best to Mike next time you see him. Better yet, make him give his best to you!
You might want to start a thread in the technical section so this one doesn't get moved there by the thread police!

Running spotlights should not be a problem as long as the electrical system is maintained. Go through and clean all of the contacts, and apply dialectric grease to help keep them that way.
The reason for disconnecting the battery before removing the front cover is it is easy to short out the diode board during the process. And it is best to disconnect the ground cable at the battery, so as not to stress the threads on the bolt on the transmission cover too often.
I don't know how hard it is to remove the airbox on the newer models, but whenever I replace my fuel line, that is how I do it. They must be more hassle than the old, round, clamshell type.
If you need a battery, I highly recommend a Odyssey PC680. It is a so-called "dry cell", and is a lot more maintenance free than a lead acid. Better if you tip over, too.
Welcome, again!