Max block size is 1 mb
So this should not happen (as long as the max blocksize isn't changed)
But theoretically, it can happen given enough transactions.
No. Not as long as the block size can't be > 1 mb.
Maybe, but that is not counting the CPU time and disk I/O time. I know if I haven't run bitcoin for a while and it's a few weeks behind it takes all day just to catch up.
I believe even my Nokia 3310 can download and verify 1 mb transaction within 10 minutes (exaggeration furthers understanding).
Catching up many blocks takes time, yes, but in theoretically you 'just' need to download+validate one block within 10 minutes and you will be able to catch up.
If the block size remains unchanged, in far future there will be high transaction costs so no Satoshi Dick style transaction flood will take place. 1M in every 10 minutes are not that much. JewTube videos take at least 10 times as much traffic as Bitcoin under worst conditions.
See this mail from Gavin (sent 6 hours ago):
A miner who publishes a block that propagates slowly risks an orphaned transaction. If another mines a block at about the same time, and if the second block propagates more quickly through the network, other miners will start working from the faster block before they see the slow block.