Fiddle = violin = fiddle.
Players of certain styles with a lot of double-stops, or two notes played at the same time often choose to play with a flatter bridge. (Think American "old-time" and Cajun.) Fiddlers in other styles often don't.
The prefered sound for either a fiddle or violin depends on the taste of the player.
Some fiddlers tend to play with the fiddle on the chest, not under the chin. Others don't. I started off with mine a good 6 inches below my chin and had a hard time playing, so I now use a shoulder rest and the thing is firmly wedged under my chin.
Shambles - I tried flute a couple times, and it felt pretty uncomfortable for me, but I suppose you get used to it.
There is (well, there must be, even though I've never enountered it) a very small bit of real snobbery from clasically trained violinists, but there's probably a ton of "perceived" snobbery. I personally think it's a stereotype. I've played with too many classically trained violinists attempting to "cross over" to believe in it - especially when they seem to know they don't play it quite like the traddies do, and they often ask the "unwashed masses" for advice on how to play.
Some styles of fiddling emphasize skill in playing prettily. Others emphasise rhythm, which definitely is NOT the main point of classical music. There are very good fiddlers who people pay to listen to. Most of us do it just for fun.