yeah on new platform it should be ok. But for example, iPhone will convert a 512x1024 to a 1024x1024 automatically. Some very old graphical card also do that.
Rectangles aren't any more expensive as far as I know. It allows you to get a more precise texel density. For example, 512x512, 512x1024, 1024x1024, it allows you to double the texture size instead of quadrupling ever step. As long as it is laid out correctly, it isn't any different. Especially for long uv shells, it…
UV coordinates always range from 0.0 - 1.0 they are not described in sizes such as 512 x 256 but always 0.0 - 1.0 because they are described as floating values within that range (although you can place stuff outside, but usually when textured it gets looped). So whenever you create a UV map of lets say 512 x 256 in the end…