I use the full length of the bow all the time. If you want to play a slower tune or say a dotted half note, it helps to have more hair. otherwise you gotta slow the bow motion waa-aay down. A slow bow stroke sounds different than a fast bow stroke, and sometimes you don't way to change bow direction with every note. And the bow sounds different at each end, so sometimes you want to avoid the ends. Kinda hard with a 10" bow!

Bows have been made differently at various times, so I'd say you were perfectly within tradition by experimenting. :) But shaping, camber, weight and balance plus wood quality, flexibility, cut, density and graining (and more!) all contribute to how a bow plays and how the violin sounds. A well-made bow makes a violin sound much better and is MUCH easier to play. So if you are serious about learning the fiddle, (as opposed to just having fun hacking around) I suggest reserving at least one of the bows for rehairing the common way. It's not entirely specious why the modern bow is shaped and made the way it is.

If you want to see some examples of reproductions of old bow styles, check this guy out. He also makes lutes.

David van Edwards