As an 'old timer', now retired and without any flying experience for some 14 years, I find myself somewhat perplexed and concerned by this thread.
From what s/he wrote, it seems the OP, friend 'meatlover', is a pilot recently out of initial training on the A320 and now in the final stages of Line Training. Presumably, then, 'meatlover' has successfully progressed through simulator training and checking and has passed his/her Base Check on the type. Yet meatlover seems quite confused as to the correct answers to the rather simple questions he/she has put.
Why is this so? How is it possible that such a recently trained F/O is apparently lacking the knowledge required to find the answers without having to resort to this website to seek advice from a plethora of strangers whose skills and qualifications are claimed anonymously?
Assuming you are not just winding us up, meatlover, I recommend you should first consult your company's regulator-approved Operations Manual and its SOPs. If you cannot find the answers there then your next port-of-call should be to your Chief Pilot or your trainers. If worth their salt, they should bend over backwards to answer your queries and explain the logic applied so that you can absorb and retain the relevant facts with respect to appropriate, and compliant, operation of the type you are flying.
FWIW and in my ever humble opinion, ALL your Line Training Captains should be doing things precisely the same way. Come to that, all your Line Captains should be too. If not, then none of them should hold the positions they do.
Surely the Line Training Captain who told you it was too early for flaps took the time once the flight was over and you were debriefing to explain in detail why he said that. And did you not ask that same Captain to provide the answers to all the questions you have put to us here?
The way this thread has progressed leaves me with enormous concern with respect to flying as a pax on airlines crewed by some of the posters here. But then maybe, just maybe, some posters here ain't what they make themselves out to be.
As an important aside, I agree completely with friend 'Centaurus'. Line flying is not the place for experimentation of any kind. Any airline pilot, whether Captain or F/O, who thinks it is really ought to be grounded - permanently!