1) I am using the catalog system. After I have imported a folder and then I add images to that folder through the finder and then go to import the new images into the catalog it appears that CO wants to import all images again and I need to cycle through all the images and select the new ones individually. It seems rather clunky to me or am I missing the best way to do this?
C1 doesn't have the ability, as does Lightroom, to ignore previously imported images. You're seeing a downside to that.
I also use C1's catalog and import directly into that. It helps to avoid the problem.
2) When in the library tab how can I select a parent folder and display all images in sub folders in the browser? It seems I have to select sub folders individually and cannot select a parent folder to view all images within the parent folder as you can in LR.
The short answer is that you can't. Lightroom works that way. C1 does not.
3) Whats the best way to delete a Variant from the catalog. I made a variant and when I wanted to delete it I made sure the corresponding RAW file was not selected and then pressed the delete key. CO removed both the variant and the RAW file from the catalog. Is this the right behavior?
C1 calls every image a "variant," even if it is the original raw. I haven't seen this problem myself, but I'd suggest experimenting and seeing if you can select a "real" variant and delete it without deleting the original file.