1.) Yes they were aluminum wheels. I did not take them down to bare aluminum though, just scuffed the surface thoroughly so the new paint could bite.
2.) No, I never did get them mounted. I actually just sold them. I'm really hoping the buyer will post up some pics when he gets them on his rig.
3.) I can't really attest to how durable they are, as I didn't mount them. But they are extremely hard to scratch.
4.) I'll post some more pictures in a little bit.
A lot of people go this route. It's cheap, effective, and if you take your time the outcome is really magnificent. I read about this on various other forums before trying it.