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First part: That's basically up to the GM to fluff out, but yeah, however it functions for a druid is how it functions for a ranger. Again, your GM may have his own way of doing things. Back in the Old Days, you had to locate the animal and spend time winning it over with food and such. The whole affair took several hours, if I recall correctly. I'm dredging up 2E memories, so things may be warped, though.
Second part: Generally, yes you need to be in an appropriate place, but GMs can waive that, depending on circumstances. There may be a menagerie nearby, or an organization that trades in exotic beasts. Waterdeep would likely have someone who at least knew someone who could get ahold of a T-Rex. The closer you get to Chult, the more likely one would be available.
Side note: Thanks for bringing up good old memories of playing 2E in the Realms. Good times. My first character ever was, in fact, a ranger in a 2E Forgotten Realms game. Got eaten by hordelings in Skullport. Good times.
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Ah, there you go! Thanks, Isil-zha. It's been a while since I've had to replace an animal companion; I've been playing wizards a lot.
As for the purchase option, that's a fair stance. With the abundance of animal companion-using folks out there, I would think some enterprising fellow might start to supply high end specimens suitable for bonding for folks that can't afford to travel to far-off locales in search of a particular flavor of critter. Of course, that all depends on how your GM views animal companions, and the rarity of classed adventurers, and such.
In any case, good gaming!
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Brain Fart - Beastmaster doesn't grant you a companion until level 4.
A note about the Beastmaster archetype; while it allows you to have multiple animal companions, you are not required to have multiple companions. Boon Companion only applies to one companion, so you would likely apply it to your big old meaty tankapotamus.
Beastmaster allows you to split your levels amongst multiple critters. At 4th level, you take Boon Companion and apply it to Tigger the Terrible. You also apply all of your levels to that one companion. As long as you stick with just one fuzzy friend, you can keep him at max level.
Congratulations: you now have a Full BAB character with partial spellcasting and a full-powered Druid Animal Companion. With 5 attacks out of the gate. And pounce. And he grows to Large at level 7.
Plus, you could set yourself up for the Mammoth Rider prestige class, and your cuddly battle buddy grows to Huge at 9th level.
Use with care; your GM may try to harm you.
Congratulations: you now have a Full BAB character with partial spellcasting and a full-powered Druid Animal Companion. With 5 attacks out of the gate. And pounce. And he grows to Large at level 7.
Plus, you could set yourself up for the Mammoth Rider prestige class, and your cuddly battle buddy grows to Huge at 9th level.
Use with care; your GM may try to harm you.
No, gms won't harm you, because they aren't playing a beast rider cavalier who gets it at level 1 and challenges too in addition to a whole other bunch of goodies out the gate in exchange for the casting.
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Eep. Double brain fart. Well, it was getting late.
Yeah, you can't take Boon Companion until 5th level, but if your game never sees 12th level, it's still worth taking.
Actually, when you hit 12th level, it can still provide some benefit to you. At 4th level, you have 1 level to assign [Ranger-3]. At 5th, you have 2 levels + the 4 from Boon Companion [of which you only get 3, since it caps at your character level], so Pet A is at full power [5 levels]. Pet A stays at full power until 12th level, when your total effective Druid level becomes 12. You can then apply 8 of your levels to Pet A + the 4 from Boon Companion, putting him at max level [12]. You then have 4 more levels to apply to another companion, which could be a scouting critter like a roc or something.
So, still not a wasted feat. Just requires some number crunching.
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Boon companion adjusts your effective druid level for 1 companion, not for your whole class:
From the d20pfsrd -
Your bond with your animal companion or familiar is unusually close.
Prerequisites: Animal companion or familiar class ability.
Benefit: The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were four levels higher, to a maximum bonus equal to your character level*. If you have more than one animal companion or familiar, choose one to receive this benefit. If you lose or dismiss an animal companion or familiar, you may apply this feat to the replacement creature.
Special: You may select this feat more than once. The effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a different animal companion or familiar.
I base my stance on the part that I bolded. At level 12 without Boon Companion, your effective druid level for Critter A is 8. Critter B is 4. Boon Companion is applied to Critter A, which puts the effective druid level for that companion at 12, which does not exceed your character level.
I do see your point, and it's a valid one, but I don't agree with it. I suppose this is a case of GM variation.