Not wishing to start any religious wars here i.e., the difference twixt a
closed form versus a bowl but of the two - platters or bowls, which is the
easiest to turn and finish? A platter, for purposes of this note, is
flat-bottomed on the interior with walls that slope up to the rim. The walls
themselves are shallow, more a lip than a wall.
I find that sanding platters to be much easier than sanding bowls. Also,
with the wood I have (maple) I can show much more of the beauty of the wood
than with a bowl. The downside is that platters, or at least those I turn,
tend to show warp more than bowls.
Another reason for posting this is the group has been a bit slow of late.

Thanks,
-kevin

Platters are easier to make unless very thin to the point where the platter
is not stiff.

Platters have more face grain and are hence easier to sand.

Platters are probably less in demand than bowls. Platters generally need to
be 12" diameter or larger, whereas bowls down to 5" are in demand.

Derek

"Kevin" wrote: (clip) The downside is that platters, or at least those I
turn, tend to show warp more than bowls.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Leo writes: Another difficulty I have had is that a flat-bottomed turning
has to be really flat, or it looks bad. That can take some care.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kevin wrote: Another reason for posting this is the group has been a bit
slow of late.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Leo writes: Another reason for posting this answer "is the group has been a
bit slow of late."