I understand Ether is not a coin, it's a basically a token to use on the Ethereum blockchain in order to initiate any implementation.
Is that basically correct?

What methods will be available for determining Ether value (in BTC or fiat) after the Ether pre-sale is finished, and what avenues will be available to sell Ether for BTC or fiat after the pre-sale is finished. Will Ether be traded on exchanges?