Yes you can pack the full bowl lightly if you wish, you can then adjust the airflow to compensate for the lighter packed chamber. We recommended a lighter packed bowl as the Anvil leans more towards convection although regardless of how you pack it, it will still do a very good job at extracting your goodies.This question was asked by a another member and went unanswered. Can the large chamber be only packed half full and get the same/similar extraction experienced as a full small bowl? Thanks
Anyone who wants to "Dip their toes" i would recommend The Anvil with full chamber and the case, if portablility isnt a big thing for you or you already have a magnetic stand then you will probably be ok without the case. The case is helpful when out and about for hot swapping or to the put the unit away while still hot