Excellent tip of the squirrel's about the sharp saw, as the fibre type is the most unique thing,and this is only one of it's contrivances! The fibre: makes weak hinges, doesn't tub grind, burn, chip worth a $-hit, bogs the chain drive (like protective pants does!), itches like fiberglass in the heat, gets in saw recoil/cooling fan (019 was eventually made to make this easier to clean out from trimming palms, so you didn't have to take the saw apart quite so far), buries air breather, holds sand to dull your saw at the base, etc.
They do tend to come down faster because of the weak fibre in the hinge, pulling with a high leverage line, helps give more hinge material to help this, by forcing a stronger hinge. For the fibre is just weak, not brittle; in fact i have layed them against lean because of this. Though i would only try that in otherwise perfect circumstances; we get some 'swan necked' palms that go 70' or so curving some, built with weak fibre, spots of rot and very slender; not good for cllimbing or tricky felling; especially on a windy day. The heads are quite heavier than they look, hard to cut (fibre), common homes for rodents, reptiles, birds, roaches, biting/stinging ants, bees, hornets etc.
An old dead palm can have a permeating, sour water smell all of it's own when cut open. The fronds give some cushion to falling impact, but very little air resistance for the trip down!
