Excellent questions and a great way to start a discussion on the role of the druids. I promise to have a more substantive post soon but to start.

Yes, historical evidence does appear to support the druids high standing in Celtic society. A lot has been made over the years regarding their 'magical' aspect but I think this completely misses the mark. They were a far more complex group. Keepers of the law, the history, the belief systems - basically all that made the Celts what they were. I think it was this that drove Caesar to hunt them down. Once he'd removed this layer, subduing the rest was relatively easy - LOL...in a militaristic, genocidal kinda way.

More later as I get my thoughts and notes together.