Check their website for requirements. If you don’t check their boxes. You risk being rejected. Apply at nearest embassy in case you get called up for an interview.
No cropping or redact; it will get rejected. Check the embassy website for requirements go through them like checkboxes. Some embassy could accept sponsor bank statement. You could check directly with them.
Yes it’s expected and you are not the first person to do it. Remember they work by checkboxes to cover their own asses. So follow their instructions so they can check off the box of requirements.
1) closing balance for each month should be 500,000 to be safe. Are you able to prove regular income too? That would help as they are starting to ask for that.