Most likely. We'd probably help more advanced apes out, seeing how we do already. Poaching and such wouldn't be as much of a problem or wouldn't be a problem at all if we've figured out how to co-exist for another 50 thousand years.
I agree with your third point. The Death Penalty is retarded. It's incredibly expensive, cruel/unusual, and it's not the worst punishment you can give someone.
I'll be walking home drunk tonight and somebody quite recently got mugged by a guy with a knife. I think I might take my own knife.