1) If I were to say this, it should be interpreted as:
"ZOMG I'm so madly in love with you! Please, say something, anything that could be interpreted as mutual interest, so that I'll know it's alright for me to actually try and make a move. Of course, I still probably won't, because, really, this is my move. So please, tell me you're interested in me romantically!!!!!!!!!!"
Of course, that's just me. There's no guarantee this guy and I have anything in common.
2) From experience, I can say that I'm pretty terrible about long-distance correspondence unless I'm really interested in someone. Granted, it doesn't necessarily have to be romantic interest, I would probably do this same with a friend.
[HR][/HR]
If you're interested in this guy, just do yourselves a favor and say something to him about it. If you're convinced that he's interested (it seems like you are), you should go with your gut. Unless you're like me, then you should do whatever you can to convince yourself that your gut is wrong, and do absolutely nothing about it, thus allowing a potentially fruitful relationship to wither and die. It's up to you, really.