One problem with an expert's demonstration is that he is experienced AND skilled in that field. It often takes a long time for the inexperienced to get to that level.
That said, when I started, there were quite a few "methods" for finishing, and while CA was past it's infancy as a finish, there wasn't a consensus as to to what constituted a great CA finish - i.e. a few thin layers of CA without the high polish that most expect and shoot for today. CA can be applied as a "thin" protective layer just fine without turning, but still, without experience that can be tricky at first.
IF, IF a finish method by an expert does not work for you. Use another. That said, few midi - pen lathes went below 500 RPM. CA is applied most of the time running 500RPM and higher. My 2 lathes bottom out at about 600RPM. They work fine and most people will tell you that 600 - 700 RPM is not too fast to apply CA.
As to removing: I put messed up finished blanks back on the lathe and turn it with light touches of a sharp scraper - more often than using acetone. If the CA is thick enough on the messed up blank, I will turn the defects down/off and then apply CA again to smooth everything out.
WARNING: If you don't get all the CA off (either by turning or by acetone) some woods will show a slight color difference, i.e. a light spot - between the areas that were not cleared of CA - and the areas that were. This doesn't happen on all woods but some.