1) The idea is good and not necessary in my opinion. The game is usually too easy and having a lot more choices with more crises thanks to you but still limited ressources could make the game more challenging (which could be cool I guess). Nerfing the costs would make the game easier. Your choice here. :)

2) Nay for me. Events usually represent intense and random short term impacts (Nobel prizes, Scandals, Terror attacks...). Your decisions make them happen, but it's largely random. Situations usually represent predictible long term impacts (Tax Evasion, Obesity, Technological Advantage...). Your decisions make them happen for sure, at a slower pace. Keeping events and situations separated as they represent different things seem better in my opinion. Also, as you already know, remember that events can already trigger situations in specific conditions, but aren't situations themselves (ex: An economic crash could create a corporate exodus for example, but the economic crash isn't a situation in itself). This system is already fine for me.

That were my two cents. Good luck with your work dude. :)