RE: spinner damage
No, that is not going to affect the plane at all. It's simply cosmetic damage to the spinner. As you already know it comes from the electric starter slipping on the spinner. It's not going to hurt anything, just ugly to look at. To start the plane without this happening try doing this. First rotate the prop clockwise until you hit compression from the engine. This will give the starter a little "room" to spin up before it hits the compression stroke of the engine. Now reach over the prop and secure the plane with your left hand (right hand if you are left handed). Place the starter on the spinner and push hard against the plane. Now hit the switch of the starter. It should spin the engine over with no problems. If for some reason it doesn't stop trying to start it. All you do is damage your spinner more.
Hope this helps
Ken