I learned how to get to the finished product faster, which is really why I took the class. The two instructors were always right there helping, pointing out safety recommendations, making excellent suggestions and making sure we were staying on the right track. Yes, there were times that I needed help or had a question and the instructors were busy with other students, but the wait was never long. And the personal instruction, direct answers and hands-on learning were always worth the wait. Yes to all three questions.
Green wood is a heck of a lot easier to turn.
The wood is much softer. The shavings just fly off the wood in long spiraling ribbons. It is possible to simply turn a piece of wood into nothing just from the shear joy of watching the bowl gouge do its thing. Cherry sap leaves dark stains on your hands that only lemon juice will remove. Since the wood is softer, it is easy to shape the bowl into whatever design you have in mind, or in my case, whatever design the wood happens to lead me to.