Hi there,
You can convert RGB to CMYK at the output stage using the Output tab in the print dialogue box.
Placing of images seems to be a matter of personal preference. I use <Ctrl>+D; File, Place; Drag from Explorer; Drag from other documents; Copy and paste from other documents; Drag from Thumbs+. It really depends on whether your graphical links are important, and where your original files are. Sometimes the only way is to copy and paste from another application, but that leads to an embedded file which could cause problems in the future.
Matthew