Reporting database configuration

Hi,

I have following requirements-:

1. Run reports on reporting database instead of production database
2. Delete data older than 6 months from production database
3. Remove data marked as deleted from production database after a month

I have decided to setup replication to synch production and reporting database in every 30 minutes to address 1^st requirement. For remaining 2 requirements I am planning to write script and schedule it to run once in midnight.

Questions:

1. Is it the correct approach or please suggest the better approach to be taken here.
2. If replication can be used, please suggest the replication techniques to be used for 1^st requirement.
3. For remaining 2 requirements, logic would be to go through tables one by one and delete data based on date value. Please suggest better approach to accomplish this if possible.

Note: I have knowledge of SQL server scripting.

Thanks-Jyoti