It is very cathartic to /slap him every time I pass by.

It is possible at the moment to trade items between the Empire and Republic factions, it's just necessary to use the Auction Houses on the Hutt dominated worlds, like Nar Shadda.

If you want to play at the same time, you need separate game code keys. And when you have that, one of you will need to create a new character because characters are tied the the account associated with the individual code keys.

Also be aware that the Armor level on the Armor mod does not equate to the player level. After all, I've got some orange pieces with Armor Level 68 armoring mods in them.

Click on them so they're showing in your right hand side window, then right click on their portrait > Additional Commands > Inspect.

Are you using your mouse or your keyboard to select your abilities? Do you have ability queuing turned up (Preferences > Controls > Combat) to higher than the default 0.5? Are you using your interrupt? If a blue bar starts growing above your opponent's health bar, use your interrupt to get rid of it. It will stop their uber damage abilities. Are you attacking and letting your companion follow up, or are you sending them in to get aggro so you can survive longer? Are you making use of environmentals (the pulsing red arrows pointing at canisters that, when clicked on, will explode and help you in your fight, if not kill them outright)? Are you making use of level appropriate healing packs? Are you using class appropriate stims? Food for thought.

I may not be getting my Founder title for a bit then, as they've not yet taken money from my account, and they keep advancing the day they say they're going to take the money out, day by day. Yesterday I was supposed to be billed on the 26th, today it says the 27th. I'm expecting it to say the 28th tomorrow. Makes me wonder why they don't want my money...