WoW newbie looking for advice

[Bob the Beholder]

Unfortunately, no. Just don't worry about them.
Duels are generally a waste of time. You don't get anything for winning them.
I've never even heard of PCs closing into spell range automatically... You'll just have to move on your own, I'm afraid.
Generally starting areas take you to levels 10-11, and up to 12 if you do absolutely every quest. The next area you're taken into is Silverpine Forest, and while the scenery isn't that different (it's a little brighter), Silverpine is one of the most well-done areas in original WoW, in my opinion. (If you have the time, check out Pyrewood at daytime and at nighttime.)

Adding to this, I'd say that although Silverpine is a really cool place with some really interesting quest lines, it's, from my experience, much, much harder to level in Silverpine than in the similarly levelled area on the other continent--The Barrens (accessible via a zeppelin from Undercity to Orgrimmar, and a moderate length run south, and then west) is packed with so many freaking easy levelling quests that basically from 12 to 20 you're good to go. Silverpine, though, has a pretty good gap in soloable quest density between 14 and about 18.

I'd try Silverpine first, and if you're having any trouble go ahead and make a run for the Barrens.