Since I try to train my trees for a first set of limbs at 4-5'....I don't get that worked up over feathered vs. whip. Perhaps I'm wrong?
I've had both and I definitely get them fruiting sooner w/ feathers. I start them at 4' or so too, but just cut out the lower limbs a couple years later. I'm not in any hurry to take those lower limbs out. I think you get better growth with more canopy, so long as you have good roots as Ben pointed out. Unfortunately you get what you get with the roots. The worst trees I ever got were from Cummins. They were supposed to be feathered, but they were whips. The following year I got the same trees (roots and variety) but they were feathered from another nursery and they both started fruiting this year.
Apples start fruiting on two yo limbs rights, so they will fruit sooner if there are limbs started, right? Typically most of the feathered trees I get are 3/4 caliper and have a little more than one scaffold started, so even if you cut the lower branches out there are some higher up that have a little start. I like that!
These were some great feathered trees from Stark Bros.