Bill Tindall
The question is from two angles and a boat load of ignorance.

1. Given that it only does moderate widths is it any use for making panels?
Even if I used the machine to prepare say a drawer front, handling the front will invariably scuff it up such that in my case I do a final sanding just before finishing. At least for the way I build I can't see where this planed surface would carry to, or survive to, the final piece before finishing.

2. Then a more global question, how are these spectacularly planed surfaces used where they make any difference in the finished furniture? Is there an apparent difference in a planed surface with two coats of rubbed shellac or lacquer vs one sanded? I don't see any difference in the appearance of the finished surface between 180 and 600 grit so I was never motivated to learn to use a hand planed surface believing I would never see the difference from a typical observation distance.

3. I have never been able to control stain take up on a planed surface. The open pores drink up stain like a sponge and the surface goes way darker than I prefer. Can planed surfaces be stained in a controlled way?