Chainsaw carbs are made for wot or idle so trying to cut something at 1/2 throttle for long periods is not good because the fuel to air mixture is off .
Pine and balsam sap are the messiest but it cleans up and I've not worn the paint off any of my saws from the bark , gravel and the bed of a truck are the ones that do .
Hardwood and softwood are mostly 2 different animals when delimbing , the tops on hardwoods span out in many directions so be mindfull of what happens when you cut a branch that supports a top or is keeping the weight to one side , softwoods stay put most of the time but that all depends on the shape , I find hardwood tops are more likely to move or roll compared to a softwood top .
Watch for branches under tension , the can jam a chain or put a hurt on you in a hurry (this applies to all trees) , I hope you get them tops because it'll be a good place to learn how a saw works and how much work a saw is LOL
Make sure you start in a nice open area with room to work .
Yes , I've read the Pro this versus the GOL that but there's lots of stuff in the GOL to keep you safe so I can't say that it would be a bad thing to take a course if available , I'll never make fun of anyone for taking a course .
The "Village Expert" videos on utube .... Meh