More Mangoes than he Can Hope to Eat

Hi, how are you?

[a ] There are more scrumptious mangoes in the basket than he hopes to eat.
There are more scrumptious mangoes in the basket than he can (ever) [could (ever)] hope to eat.

Question1
There would most likely be more of the mango in the basket in situation a than in situation b, or as many of it in the basket in situation a as in situation b, I suppose. Am I correct?

Question2
Which would be the better rephrase for 'There are more scrumptious mangoes in the basket than he can hope to eat'?
[b-1] There are more scrumptious mangoes in the basket than he is able to hope to eat.
[b-2] There are more scrumptious mangoes in the basket than he hopes to be able to eat.

Question3
Could you say b-3 for 'There are more scrumptious mangoes in the basket than he can hope to eat' to mean pretty much the same?
[b-3] There are more scrumptious mangoes in the basket than he can want to eat.

Best,

Hiro