grow bags are cheaper and allow a little more air to enter the root ball. usually the side of the bag will separate from the root ball and allow air to drop down the sides.
yes it will still grow, but instead of wasting those bud sites, supper crop the plant and bend it over then tie it down. the side branches will stretch.
dwc definitely increases yield... aeroponics are a little better but you have to be careful with your organic nutes because they will gum up the jets. has anyone expermimented with adding raw milk to your plants water supply? it works. gives you all those helpful microbes. farmers use raw milk...