CRT TVs generate a lot of heat. Are you sure you want to put your 360 on top of what is essentially a lesser form of a hotplate? Also, is the top of your TV a nice flat surface?

My rule of thumb is always that I treat my 360 like I would treat my gaming PC. I keep it up off the carpet, in an open area, and with all the vents exposed to air. If you're not doing that, you're asking for trouble.

My tray doesn't open when I click the button so I have to stick a popsicle stick/finger nail/repetition under the tray while I push the button and hold it up to get the tray out

LOL.  Dude you might want to get that fixed.

1. Do not drop it from a fairly high distance. My brother knocked ours off the top of our enetertainment center and it ceased working properly.

Will maybe a small plastic stool work? If not, I'll see what else I can do...

Don't keep the brick close to walls, yes the brick

The power brick has issues as well? Better to know now than later I guess...

Still, is a small plastic stool a good place to put the system horizontally?