What about single user mode? Can you boot to SUM, then run fsck? Will it boot to repair mode (CMD-R) during power on?

Does it make a difference if the power cord is attached or not? You could try resetting the SMC: with MBP plugged in, press and hold CMD-OPT-SHIFT and then the power button ( I generally hold them for a ten count). You should see the charge light on the pwr adapter flip color (from amber to green or vice versa) after you release all. Then try powering on.

My understanding is that airdrop doesn't work from iPhone to OSX. But TBH, it has been a long time since I looked into it.

Have you tried resetting the chrome OS?

Can you provide more details? Specifically, what is the outside source? Is the music in MP3 format? Does your notebook have a CD tray?

Whether you keep it or sell it, it would seem that repairing it would be worth the time/effort. However that would depend on: a) Can you get a replacement glass/digitizer? b) how comfortable at repairs are you? c) how much time do you want to invest in repairing it. A cursory glance at the parts store here did not show me a glass/digitizer for the G2. I've had some potential customers decide that the issue they had was not worth the time/cost/effort to repair because they were very close to the time they could upgrade their phone anyway. I know it's not a clear yes/no answer, but hopefully gives you some things to think about.

Adding ram is relatively trivial for a MacBook Pro, as long as you order 204pin SODIMM ram. I know on older MacBooks, you were limited to a single speed of ram, but I'm not sure if that continues to be correct. As for logic boards, the layout of components (specifically connectors) could be different (along with size and shape), so I would be very hesitant to swap logic boards.

The keys are relatively easy to pop off, and replace or clean. Just take a thin blade and slide it just under the edge of the key, and then twist. The key should pop off the holder. Putting the key back on only requires placing the key in the correct position/orientation and then pressing it down, until you feel it click into the holder.

I don't think it will. I believe the mounting holes on the LCD panel are in different locations, and there is a different connector to the logic board on both screens.

My understanding from working with laptops for a while now is that the processors are soldered onto the logic board, so therefore would be all but impossible to swap out, as the soldering is on pins underneath the processor itself. Even if you were up to the soldering challenge, you would still be limited to a Core 2 Duo processor, since CPUs are designed for specific sockets. The socket on an A1278 logic board would be designed to only accept a Core 2 Duo processor (or another processor from the same socket family). You wouldn't be able to throw an I5 processor in the same socket, however. I'm not sure how well swapping the logic board for a different one would work either. This issue comes down to fit and component layout (specifically connectors for various components). If the component ad connector layout were the same, so that the new logic board would fit the old case, then I would think swapping logic boards might work (but that is a big if). Your best bet would be to bite the proverbial bullet and...