is anyone else having a problem getting stockpiles of bars and stone to work?
Stockpiles should be fine, there is no way to affect them with modding.
castes and are there still pet dragons?
Currently castes can not be disabled. Its on the todo list of the GUI, to add that functionality to the Guildhall, Monastery, Garrison and Magic buildings. At some point disabling these workshops should disable the fitting castes, but its a rather low priority point.
Pet dragons were a tiny bit overpowered, they have been removed since. You can still get hellfire turrets, or build your own ones in the machine factory, they have the same dragonfire attack.
In a warm biome)water never freezing), can i grow above ground crops all the year?
Nope, because plants grow according to their active seasons, and ignore the actual temperature. Thats hardcoded. If I could change it, I would... but I cant. So I dont.