This is in answer to (primarily) the third question. The association of entropy with disorder is naturally anthropocentric, "disorder". "Disorder" is an idea based ona concept derived from our experience of the world.
The association with "disorder" is straightforwardclearer once we explain what we mean by "order" is properly defined, which, given the number of meanings attributed to the word, is not entirely trivial. FromThe following definition among those provided by Merriam-Webster, this seems to most closely fitfits the intended meaning when used in chemical circles:
a regular or harmonious arrangement
RegularitySince regularity always implies lower entropy, all else being equal. It, it is therefore fair to associate "order" with lower entropy.
The association with "order" or regularity also syncs with the concept of entropy as far as theaccording to Boltzmann's statistical mechanical definition following Boltzmann $$S= k_\mathrm B \log \Omega$$ is concerned($S= k_\mathrm B \log \Omega$). $\Omega$, the number of microstates available to the system, iscan be quantified byusing the entropy. More possible differentunique microstates meansimplies a higher entropy. Greater regularity implies more constraints regarding arrangement of the system and therefore less possible microstates. Solids are usually more regular and therefore have lower entropy than fluid states at the same T. Same when comparing gases and liquids. The possible microstates increases from solid to liquid to gas.
This also jives with the informational-content definition. You can use less information (use a more compact description) to describe an orderly (regular) system. You need more information to describe all possible arrangements of molecules in a gas or liquid than in a solid. Think of entropy as measuring the length of the recipe required to build all possible arrangements of the system.