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Historically, elevators hung on cables, and that's why it was one per shaft. Paternosters put more weight on their hanging parts and probably have much more severe height limitations.

We're slowly starting to see elevators without cables, and this will probably influence tall buildings in the coming decades. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJLlXwVLDH0

There are a few different systems out there, I haven't seen one in person, but they seem like interesting ideas. I found some searching "Circulating Multi-car Elevator System"

Maybe, but there are details that matter that make it questionable. The Paternoster works but has both safety issues (thus illegal for new construction and where they exist only trained people are allowed to use it), and is slow. There are lots of other options that your elevator salesman can discuss with out - but all have trade offs that you may not like. In the end though there is no getting around large numbers of people take a while to move.