I'm not familiar with European banks, so could someone please explain the implications of being able to get an account here. I don't quite get what SEPA is or what the big deal of having IBAN numbers is.

I'm American, made an account and uploading a scan of my drivers license is no issue. After that you may need some other type of identification depending on laws but I basically have a euro-denominated bank account (just can't apply for a line of credit)?

I wonder how just this part, forgetting that it would be fairly easy to deposit bitcoins into it can help me. I run an ecig business and these are prohibited to be sold with paypal and many similar services, credit card processors, etc. here. Whenever I have had customers in Europe, I always tell them their options are Western Union or similar, postal cheque or bitcoins. Could I now offer them something which will be cheaper for them?

My customers in France thought it was weird that I couldn't use paypal and I see one French ecig place (here) accepting it. Could I use my new French bank account to sign up for a French paypal and then accept payments with that for my US based business? Is there any sort of credit card processor/gateway which can be offered by your partners?