Hmm...lots of Poke-nubs in this place 
Ok, I will answer everything, except for Snipe's little quiz, which I cant find the answer to Q2.
I am proud to have a weird Charizard.
You know how they're meant to major on the "attack" stat for offense? Mine has a way higher "Spcl" attack stat. Oh yeah.
No, that is incorrect. Charizard is, and always have been a special attacker. It doesnt have a terrible Attack stat, so you can go mixed (special, and physical move set), if your Charizard has a, lets say, Lonely nature, which raises Attack, and lowers Defence.
Here is what Marriland.com have to say about it: http://pokemon.marriland.com/hgss/pokedex/charizard/
Although I didnt need to check, because in Fire Red/Leaf Green, I would always choose either Charizard or Venusaur, for obvious reasons. So I think you are a little confused about Charizard's stats.
Maybe you confuse him with Fire-starter Pokemon from other regions? 
Infernape Perhaps? It has a really high Attack stat.
Forgive me if I am outdated, I'm an RBY and GS veteran. What is the Spcl Attack value for? I took little notice to battle calculations and more to screwing with the game (missingno FTW, lvl 129 Haunter, 20 Lugias, whatever the hell I fealt like getting after I figured out how to do it [no gameshark, mind you, just engine abuse]).
Pokemon Red/Blue were the titles that started it all. I remember spending hours and hours in my Gameboy, playing Pokemon Blue. I never played Red, but they are the same anyways. And yes, Pokemon RBY and GS are the most "abuseable" Pok games. Missigno, cloning Pokemon, multiplying items, etc etc
Anyway, you are absolutely right to not know what are the Special stats for. Because in RBY and GS versions, there is no explanation as to what these values are for. I didnt know it back then, as well. Now, let me explain:
There are 3 types of Pokemon moves in the game:
1. Physical
2. Special
3. Status
1. Physical moves are offensive moves that hurt the foe, and do dmg according to A. The move's power, B. Calculating resistances and weaknesses of the move vs the foe's type/element and C. the user's Attack stat.
2. Special moves are offensive moves that hurt the foe, and do dmg according to A. The move's power, B. Calculating resistances and weaknesses of the move vs the foe's type/element and C. the user's Special Attack stat.
3. Status moves, are moves that dont hurt the foe (directly), and are basically everything that ISNT an offensive move. These moves can range from either status problem inflicting moves to the foe, like Toxic, or moves that raise the user's stats, or moves that lower the foe's stats, etc etc.
To cut it, short, the Special Attack applies to Special moves, and the Attack stat applies to Physical moves. The Special defence is obviously to resist Special moves, and so on.
Diamond and Pearl had a massive redo of Spec and normal attack.
Diamond and Pearl, reconfigured some Pokemon's stats, but the big change was made in Gen III (Ruby/Sapphire versions), where the "Nature" system was introduced.
Irrelevant stuff: The use of the bottom screen in Diamond/Pearl, really bugged me, because IMO, it was hideous in the way it looked.
Thankfully, they corrected that in Heart Gold/Soul Silver, and the bottom screen is now both useful, and pretty.
@IFear: If you liked Pokemon Gold/Silver, then you will absolutely LOVE Heart Gold/Soul Silver.
I have finished SS, and now I am playing HG 
"Cute Pokemon always get Parahax!"
