Bonjour Guillaume!
1. 2524s are capable of RSTP? I only have 4108GLs and I know they are. During the RTSP election, the "lowest MAC" SWT becomes the root. Generally, it is not a good ideea to mess-up with RSTP parameters - so leave them at their default values.
2. If you REALLY want a specific SWT to be the root, you modify its priority to a lower one. It will become the root, but when it will fail a new election will take place. During the election, your useful network traffic will virtually cease. If you want no elections, you "diktate" the priority for all SWTs: each with a different value.
3. If you see traffic on both fibers, it is because RSTP is "blocking" a trunk between a 4108GL a 2524 - not necesarily a fiber (as you might wish).
4. If configured OK and running on all SWTs, RSTP can help you a LOT. 5 days ago I needed to disconnect a fiber for maintenance, and RSTP did its job very well: I did not receive any phone call saying "My network is down!!!". So RSTP it's great not only for accidental loss-of-link, but for planned maintenance also.
5. See "Spanning Tree Options: RSTP (802.1w)
and STP (802.1d)" in "4100_Mgmt&Config (ed4).pdf" that comes on the CD with the 4108GLs. Pay special attention to "Optimizing the RSTP Configuration" on page 13-9.
Cheers,
Dan