Some Metal Gear Solid Plot Questions

[Warjack Prime]

So I've watched the walkthroughs of MGS1, 2, and 3 on YouTube and I'm playing MGS4 right now but I'm confused by something. It seemed to me that Snake (often referred to as Jack) in MGS3 beat Big Boss (the original female Big Boss) and became Big Boss. MGS3 took place in the 60's or something like that. At the end of that game it said the Les Enfants Terrible was formed which is when Liquid Snake, Solid Snake and Solidus were born right?

I just want to clarify a few things:

1) Snake from MGS3 is not the same Solid Snake from MGS1, 2 and 4? They look the same. I get it now. MGS3 features Naked Snake aka Big Boss or Solid Snake's "dad".

2) Eva from MGS3 is the same Eva from MGS4 but she knew the first Snake who became Big Boss not the Solid Snake from MGS4? I get this now too

3) The original Lady Big Boss from MGS3 birthed the Snake from MGS3 who became Big Boss after he killed her in MGS3? Ok she's The Boss not Big Boss and she found and trained Naked Snake she isn't his biological mother.

4) I don't understand what happened to Raiden in MGS4. Is he some kind of robot? Is that explained later in the game (I'm just at the part where I returned to Shadow Moses after Liquid kicked everyone's ass in Eastern Europe)? Ok this part is weird but I guess he must have undergone some synthetic enhancements but now he's back to "normal".

5) Solid Snake from MGS4 is aged because he was made that way so he wouldn't live too long or something like that? I get this now; kind of like a built in fail safe.

6) How come Liquid from MGS4 was so much better at CQC than Solid Snake but Solid Snaked kicked Liquid's ass in MGS1?This one is still hazey. Was it because of the syringes?

7) Does anyone else think the entire story is kind of overly complex? I mean, the whole concept behind the Patriots is odd. Yeah it's still complex but it makes more sense now.

8) So the Patriots aren't real people but rather some phantom of negative energy that collected in the White House? I think that was mentioned in MGS2. No I get it. It was Major Zero, Signit, Para Medic and some other fools.

9) Where does Metal Gear (the original NES game) fit into this story? Was that the Solid Snake from MGS1, 2 and 4? Ok so it was the same Solid Snake and this must be where he fought Grey Fox.

10) So who is Big Boss now? Well at the end of MGS4 Naked Snake was Big Boss but apparently there is no Big Boss since he died due to Fox Die.

I downloaded the storyline but haven't read it since I watched MGS1, 2 and 3 but that was really confusing too since there were so many links to click on.

I would definitely say if someone doesn't play or watch MGS1, 2, and 3 they will probably have a hard time understanding the entire plot but the game will stiff be fun.