Here is a good video from the BaseCamp series. It is "advanced" but it will give you some good ideas about how the tool is used in models. http://sites.google.com/site/3dbasecamp2008/all-sessions-2008/working-with-terrain-and-other-irregular-surfaces

Actually, both. In the new SU 7 templates they put both in. If you want to get rid of them ultimately, make your style (and any other) setting (you may be interested in the Window > Model info dialog, too) and save it as a custom template under the File menu (new to SU 7). Then go to Window > Preferences > Templates and choose your newly created template for the future.