Yes Middlesex were the other major beneficiaries with Finn, Malan, Helm and Morgan all missing out at this point. Again I suppose how much some of them play is questionable but there is a chance all four could start, in theory, when the season gets underway.
Yes I wouldn't blame that at all for not selecting him, there are of course the possibilities of injuries and whatever and he should be available to play if they require.
Don't disagree with you at all on this, it's just a better option to have than not have. He could still comfortably score runs in CC if the motivation and everything is there, but I don't see great value in selecting him for the longer format side.
Yes if Brathwaite signs on a longish-term deal I think he would be a decent signing. He's not someone that will come over and take it for granted that he will score plenty of runs because he's a Test player, he's still developing and has some way to go before being a very good Test player, plenty to prove and plenty to learn. That said, he does have plenty of Test experience and knows how to bat long periods. I certainly see the benefits of a signing like that.
Do middlesex really need an opening bat? Surely with Compton, Gubbins, Robson, Eskinazi and Holden they have plenty of cover at the top of the order.
There are some very talented younger batsmen there that will hopefully be better again another year on, but no Middlesex batsman averaged over 40 last season, Robson probably the stand out at the top of the order. They'll lose Adam Voges and won't see much of Dawid Malan, maybe the likes of Compton, for example, need a kick up the backside that the acquisition of an overseas batsman might subtly do while adding some batting quality in depth, depending who gets the gig.
I like that it is open with people walking down the streets.