yeah a tent will give you an extra 20 degrees as long as it isn't too heavily vented.

The titanium pots are more expensive but they are a lot lighter and worth it I think. I've used the fuel tabs and they are really light and convenient, but they don't work nearly as well in the wind and take a really long time to boil water. Canister stoves are lighter and more convenient but won't work well at all at low temperatures. They are also pretty wasteful if you are cooking for several people.

I think the white gas or multifuel stoves are the best. I have an MSR Whisperlite International that will work with white gas, kerosene, auto gas or jet fuel. I haven't had any problems with it and I'm very satisfied. The newer stuff might be a little better(maybe not) but the Whisperlite is plenty good enough and half as expensive.

If you are going somewhere you'd have wood fuel available, I think that would be a lot more educational for the kids. I'd just bring some wire to hang your pot on. If there's plenty of rock you could just suspend it over the fire on some rocks, or even make a collapsing wireframe to hold the pot over the fire.