First, make sure that iTunes is signed into the iPad owner's Apple account. It is best if this is done in a separate login account on the computer so you do not loose any of your saved apps and backed up data.
Then from there once you plug it in to a full backup to the computer, no upgrading yet! Always do a full backup before an upgrade. Once backed up go and do the upgrade. This will wipe all data on the iPad! Once the update is installed, it will then restore all the prior apps, data, music, movies, pictures and books the tablet.
After that, everything should be golden.
(This is based on my experience upgrading an iPhone 4 from iOS 4 to 5.)
Rather than wireshark, try using a http proxy, like fiddler2. Then save the Rss content to a file, and load it into a browser, like firefox. Then you'll have to visually diff the two views of the RSS feed.
Best Answer
I think you are good to go. If you are concerned about recovering data, it is almost impossible to recover the data after the encryption key has been deleted (that's what Erase all content and settings does). You can check at http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5661 to make sure everything is good.
TL;DR: Good to go. Nothing else needs to be done.