Correction: Pruned node will in summary download all the blocks, but at one moment it will only use -pruned=N where N is a number of megabytes, at least 550. When it syncs with the latest block, it will have a chainstate with the same idea of the state like any other full node that has all the historical blocks.

Yes, I have experience with both pruned node and a non-pruned node. A pruned node can still act as a full member of the network by verifying all the transactions (and forwarding them to other nodes if they are valid).

One can also mine on a pruned node or run a btc-rpc-explorer against it.

And a pruned node can even help your new nodes come up, as you can simply copy the needed files and start a new node (see https://prunednode.today/).

But yes, very thin ice discussing this topic with others because this topic is (and rightfully so) very opinionated. It touches the basics of what Bitcoin is. If you have the space for it, run a full node with all the historic blocks. If not, run a pruned node which is the second best. And preferable do the initial block download yourself, but if you know what you are doing, feel free to do it otherwise. In the end your node will have the same chainstate and last blocks, no matter what you do. But do it. Learn in practice. You'll feel the difference.