That plane is out of the ordinary, no longer a plain plane. Perhaps it could even be called inordinate for a plane, I think only to those plain folk who feel a plane should be plain, ordinarily. You're getting closer and closer to that engraved cowbell.
Yes and Yes. Vrtually every cut chipped out. Made it hard to control as there wasn't a nice piece of swarf to snug up against before making the next blow.