I've had the stupid thought that Rudy was otherwise connected to Dexter -- brother, cousin, something like that, someone who'd be in the know via informal channels? Because I was honestly not getting any indication that Rudy got his information from police files; it'd be
lame, story-line-wise, too, since our copycat already did that...

I'm a bit uneasy about the Deb-as-damsel-in-distress thing for gender reasons

Same here; I'm hoping the writers don't screw it up. So far, they've been awesome, showed us strong women and weak men and everything in between, but as you say, this is one powerful trope they might have felt they couldn't get around.

Maybe I've read too much Silence of The Lambs

Maybe I'm the same -- read all the Harris novels -- but really, it did come to mind rather instantly; I've been thinking about it too. Cannibalism, always fun! And as you point out so correctly, it'd fit with the credits, with all the shots of Dexter eating, chewing, enjoying his food.

Also a very good reason to repress. I've read that antisocial personality disorders are often brought forth by great trauma at an early age; this would so very definitely qualify. As Dexter says himself: No wonder he's been suppressing emotions all along, if just the flashbacks and shadows are what he would have felt all along otherwise.