Well, Teyla's father was a last minute addition, but she did say that he was taken by the Wraith, so it would figure that he'd be there somehow.
Ronon and his mother's story is a nod made by murron to a story writen by Auburn and me, actually.
Rodney's indignant correction of his age is something I can easily see on the show (and do want to see DH do.)
The atmospheric credit needs to go to murron, who's just incredibly talented with that sort of thing.
And, the death-cult ... It's the Pegasus equivalent of the medieval "memento mori".
Thank you for the beautiful, detailed feedback.