there's a free tool called 'TreePrint' that will add printing capability to the right-click menu in Explorer. It's been available since at least XP.

I can connect to an FTP site as a folder in Vista. I assume that feature is still in W8, although I also assume it isn't done the same way.

i can view files in Vista's file explorer, with the same assumptions as I have for FTP.

Filtering folder contents can be done with search parameters although I don't think they can be saved.

Yeah, multiple rename is a must when dealing with photos.