[ubuntu] iwlwifi problem & some more questions

Problems:

I've just installed ubuntu 16.04 and updated fully. I'm facing 2 issues:

#1 Booting takes long with a big pause with error message:

[ 8.698707] iwlwifi 0000:09:00.0: Unsupported splx structure
[ 8.813606] iwlwifi 0000:09:00.0: Direct firmware load for iwlwifi-3160-17.ucode failed with error -2

It's a lenovo laptop with built-in Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless AC 3160 card

There after it takes long at resolvconf, "systemd-analyze blame: shows

30.085s systemd-networkd-resolvconf-update.service

#2 Shutdown also takes long with a big pause at:

systemd-networkd-wait-online.service

#3 It's a broadwell pentium dual core, and sometimes the screen flickers.

Questions:

#1 If ubuntu is moving to systemd, why upstart and sysvinit packages are still there in xenial, and it's impossible to remove them.
#2 Going forward Ubuntu will use Mir display server. As of now Xorg takes care. Ok, but I see packages of Mir, wayland and Xorg. Again it's impossible to remove any.
#3 Are we doing away with python 2? I'm unable to remove those packages, many important programs including GIMP is getting removed, if I try that.