Once you installed it, start the VM and plug in your iPod. For VM to see it, on right top there is a … menu, go preferences from there. Switch to Devices & Shares tab. It should see your iPod now, just enable it. Also set a shared directory from below so you can put your music files there before uploading them to your iPod. This is the iTunes version I use: www.filehorse.com/download-itunes-64/35820/
Click on + to select the ISO from file. It will start the installation process. Install Windows 7 with its steps. 20 GB space and 4 GB RAM would suffice for virtual machine.
I don’t know if there is a unified tool for that but I use btop and nvtop side by side. I don’t really care but if there is one, I’d like to know as well.
You described EndeavourOS if you ask me. It’s Arch but preconfigured, so ready to use after install while being as configurable as Arch if you want to go further. Has AUR so you won’t have problems finding a program.