Chute size - I have the 8006 as well and love it. I haven't ever had any other juicer, so the size of the chute hasn't been a problem for me, I just assumed they were all like that. I cut cucumbers into quarters the long way. Sometimes big apple slices need to be trimmed down. It's really not that big of a deal. For leafies, sometimes I rip them up before stuffing them down with a celery stalk or apple slice.
Noise level - It's relatively quiet and shouldn't be heard through the walls any more than your other activities, having the TV on, etc.
Drink within 48 hours! - Personally, I don't keep juices longer than 48 hours, out of experience. I noticed I would get TERRIBLE bloating and awful gas from juices that were older than a couple of days and I assumed my body couldn't handle something in the juices, until I only drank fresh juice and everything was fine.
Carrots - I use a vegetable wash on my (organic) carrots but do not peel them. Just chop off the stems.
Where to buy - I found my juicer on ebay (brand new) for slightly less expensive than it was going on Amazon.
You're going to love juicing!