Looking ahead in FNEI and in the research tree, there are only inserters with different tiers. Is there some way to change the inserter pickup distance or are we limited to a one tile range? Also the first inserter we have access to is the 'filter inserter 2', is that a name bug or is the 'filter inserter 1' missing?

This mod uses bob's logistics inserter overhaul. Shortly after researching inserter 2, there is a tech that allows you to check a box to turn any inserter into a long inserter when you place them. Long inserters are very useful in this mod since some of the recipes have a number of ingredients, but you can generally get by ok without them prior to inserter 2, since the earlier recipes are not quite so complex.

There is no filter inserter 1. The 4th research pack is the electrical engineering pack, and filter inserters need some extra electronics. Equipment prior to that tech level is a little more crude. However, you can still use the filtering feature of splitters to separate out different products on a belt.