TKD is a form of Karate IMHO. Especially back in the day. Without Karate TKD wouldn't look anything like it does.
It's a fact - lousy technique, McDojo belt sales, appalling training and over inflated and deceptive claims What would you describe that as?
Yes the single biggest influence on TKD was Karate. No doubt about that. There were 7 Koreans that went abroad & while there, learned karate. When they returned home these 7 had some early influence on starting or re-starting MAs in Korea, which led to the formation of the 6 early kwans. (Note: There were others beside the 7, but they influenced yudo, hapkido etc. Then there may have been even more, but they did not become involved with the eventual TKD movement. One did, Ki Whang Kim, but he was not really too involved in Korea. He became involved in the USA as he used it to make a living when he had to move away from the political opposition after the 5/16 military coup.)
Yes I would say mostly kicks as well. I however am not informed enough to know the differences from Japanese & Okinawan karate.