In my understanding, every Order may have (in theory) its own rote for every spell listed in the rule books. The rotes explicitly described are just examples (in general indicating which Orders are most likely to use a rote version of a given spell.)
If you learn a rote from a mentor belonging to a different Order than yours, you'll use the rote dice pool with the skill given in the spell's description - but the Attribute linked to it may differ from Order to Order (and will be determined by the Storyteller.) See Spell Format > Spell Title > Sample Rote on p.131, MtAw.
Using the rote version of a spell is almost always better than improvising the same: see p.111 of MtAw for the reasons, under "Rote Spells." This is true even if you don't get the +1 from the Rote Specialties (because of using a rote that does not rely on your Order's Rote Specialties.)
Yes, Apostates are rather screwed rote-wise, since rotes are heavily guarded secrets of the Orders. (It takes a lot of effort to get even a mage of your very own Order to teach you a rote spell, let alone to an outsider - especially if that outsider is not a member of any Order.) There's the price of the apostate's "freedom": a serious lack of support to rely on in a harsh world.
As for the second question, I'd say you're right to suppose Sleepers would consider the recording (possibly very, very skilfully) manipulated.
Best Answer
Drawing from the indexes on WoD Canon Wiki and digging around my books.
Having Resource dots is almost essential for a nWoD characters. Choosing not to spend some of your starting 7 Merit dots or 2XP per dot, is asking to roleplay someone very poor. and this can be very fun.
Alternatively, your GM might say something like: "All Players start with Resources 2, you guys are working for X and that is what they pay you. If you want more, buy it with XP/starting dots and it comes from some other source such as a trust fund/internet venture/investments/other job. This is similar to to giving some extra starting XP.
What You Can Buy
So Basic Needs:
Beyond your basic needs, you have the kind of things you might be able to find thrown out on the side of the street, or dropped and not picked up. eg sticks, strips of cloth, box of matches.
Clothing:
Most clothing is free, assuming it provides no mechanical bonus. Fashionable clothing that would give a social bonus has a price (though I don't know if it is listed anywhere; it is definitely in the God-Machine Rules Update, though that is a slightly different system)
Weapons:
Improvised Weapons:
What You Can Not Buy
To get an understanding of how poor a Resources 0 character is, it might help to consider the listed things they can't just go out and buy. There are some things we don't think about, that to enjoy this roleplaying experience you should remember you don't have:
However, Resources is only what you can buy
The Resources Merit only says what you can buy, not what you can have. If a Resource zero character gets into a fight with a gun-carrying security guard, and manages to win, he can pick that gun up and use it just fine. He is even allowed to go and pick a fight with the guard just to get his gun to shoot someone else. There is some discussion on that here.
Similarly someone could gift you something, e.g. Your NPC boss or a Mentor might gift you a smart phone, so they can get in touch with you. Some different groups have different opinions on players gifting other players things. E.g. with the people I normally play in, this is not ok in char gen (especially for a oneshot), but is natural an expected if it comes up in a campaign.
So that is what it is like to have 0 dots of Resources. Now one dot of Resources can get you a lot. If you had one dot that is a car, some body armour, even a gun.
On the other hand: the Luxury Merit
There is also the Luxury Merit from Seers of the Throne page 52. It is not restricted to Mages. While Resources represents disposable income, on top of basics like food, shelter and transportation, the Luxury Merit represents having huge quantities/qualities of these basics. Luxury 2 has the assets of someone with Resources 5. This means they always eat at the best restaurant, always fly first class, get to drive really flashy cars and have a home for them in every city they care to visit. Luxury 4 adds to this helicopters at their beck and call, a large staff of servants, and access to almost any whim they may desire -- but not for Weapons or Cash. Luxury is often the result of a business/organisation paying for your needs. I always liked the idea of a Luxury 2, Resource 0 Archbishop.