Backpacking the Rhine (and several questions)

[supernovafsx]

So this January, maybe a little later than that, my wife and I want to backpack down the Rhine river. We want to start in Amsterdam, and go through Germany, France, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. We'll have 14 days to travel. That's about all I know about this trip, backpacking in general, etc. I know the basics... hostels are good, eurorail is good (Though I know nothing about it), summer months are bad for travel (We are going between christmas and new years).

So I have a few questions...

1) Does $4000 sound like enough for the whole trip, including air fares? I dont really care what city we land in, as long as we can explore the region, but it will still be expensive for the flight from Louisiana. I can possibly save up more and bump it up to 4500 or even 5000, but thats the limit.

2) Does anyone else have experience with this region and tips to give my wife and I for our first travel experience?

3) Would you get a travel agent? Because we are highly considering finding one. How much do they cost, and do you think it would be worth it?

4) How long does it take for your passport to come in, because we want to get started on that ASAP.

5) Should I take my $2000 digital camera? I was warned against taking expensive things, but I would LOVE to capture the moments that I experience.

6) How are the drugs in amsterdam?

thanks!