Can USB 2 peripherals (hard drives, USB microphones, et al) be used with a MacBook Air that only has USB 3 jacks?
Yes. The ports are interchangeable.
Yes. The ports are interchangeable.
Yes, the USB 3 ports on the new MacBook Air will work with your USB 2 peripherals just fine (at USB 2 speeds).
Is it true that if you have a USB 3 device and a USB 2 device, that the USB 3 device should be connected first, then the USB 2 device into it? Or is that an old wives' tale?
Any readers happen to be using any USB mics on their MacBook Air computers?
You are correct. However, if you daisy-chain a USB 2 device to a USB 3 device you may well find that both devices operate at the speed of the slower device. I don't know that they can run independently off the same port.
I've used a USB mic in the past, though not on a MBA.
Is USB 3 compatible with USB 2 peripherals?
