1. The only 100% accurate test I know of is to get stung. Don't worry 99.98% of the population receives nothing but a LOCAL REACTION. And, in the Bee Culture article last year they said that one's chances of dying from a bee sting (due to allergic reaction) was about 1 in 555,555,556. You have a greater chance of dying in a car, airplane, train or just walking across the street. Realisticly, death and even allergic reactions are EXTREMELY RARE. I was the same way before I got bees...I actually received my first true "bee-sting" from my very own hive. Prior to that I had only experienced paperwasps.
2. Starting with a nuc really helps the bees to build up but, at least in the US, they can't be shipped. Only packages can be shipped.
3. No suit is 100% sting proof. If it were it'd be heavy, stiff, bulky and have a high risk of overheating and possibly heat related illness (heat exaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, etc.). Just be sure to tie up you're veil well and you'll do fine. And a peice of advice, if a bee gets in you're veil, walk away...loosen the skirt so you can get your head in, look up towards the sun and just "scoop" it out.
The rewards of beekeeping far outweigh, at least in my opinion, the pain of a few stings.