I’ll just swap in a more formal/conservative band if it seems warranted. It’s 2023 - it’s pretty normal to wear a smartwatch.

Even as a teen/pre-teen I remember novelizations being of decidedly mixed quality unless they came from a well-known author. It’s worth reading the novel version of 2001: A Space Odyssey, for example.

A Series 8 would probably be a great deal if you can find one on a sites like Amazon. An always-on display matters more than you might think.

No, I don’t think so. I think the Watch might eventually evolve into a wraparound cuff with a flexible display, but you’d still call it a watch.