Yes, yes and yes.
Never had a band saw and I don't do a great deal but feel limited by not being able to cut curves. The idea of taking a (small) log and ripping it into strips without knowing what you will find fascinates me. Then using your own sourced wood sounds great. I need to go look at it, take a couple of pieces of wood and just see how it copes I guess. I do like old, robust machines hence my kity thicknesser/planer.
Thanks again
Steve