What's the situation with cheaters in the standalone? Are they ever an issue? What are the chances that I would encounter someone who cheats? This is my main concern, coming from H1Z1.
Depends on your server and where you hang out, their numbers have been drastically reduced since 0.53. If you stayed away from coastal cities and military bases they have always been very rare. High population server/area = more chance of cheaters. Usually private hive = less cheaters, 1st person = less cheaters. Haven't seen one personally since the 0.53 update, however.
Are there PvE servers available on the standalone? Sometimes I just like to remove the human threat from the game and if that's an option please let me know!
Some private servers have no-kill rules in place, but you are still able to take damage from other players. There is not much "E" in "PVE" at the moment.
*Are there any big bugs I should be weary of before purchasing? *
Stay away from trucks.
What are the most common ones you run into while playing? I'm alright with a moderate amount of bugs considering the game isn't completely finished yet, but only within reason.
Can't finish animations.
What's the status of PvP on most servers? Coming from H1Z1, almost everyone I encounter kills on sight. Is it generally the same on DayZ standalone, or should I expect a less aggressive playerbase?
Didn't play H1Z1. You can find friendly people, especially if they do not have a gun.
How much time does it take to get established with basic weapons/amenities? For H1Z1, it could take about 3 hours to get everything you need to either start PvPing or start building your base.
15-25 minutes.
How scarce are weapons/ammo, generally speaking?
Basic weapons are easy to find, automatic weapons are harder to find esp. on persistent servers, unless you take them from other players.