[function_seven]

Unfortunately the answer is "no" to both #1 and #2.

It does do something close to those. Column data types are automatically carried over to the next row when inserting or appending rows to an existing table. But you're free to override it if you want for a particular cell

Same with formulas. When you enter a formula in one cell, Excel will automatically copy across the whole column. But you're able to undo that auto copy if you really just want the formula in that one cell. It'll also flag cells that have inconsistent (compared to rest of table) formulas.

So, no, it doesn't enforce. But it does encourage.

[LeonB]

The warning you receive when a formula is not consistent is a nice feature, and an advanced user will quickly learn to be very sensitive to those warnings, will spot them quickly, and avoid causing them when possible.

To strictly enforce that the formula must be the same in each cell of the column would not be very excel-like, I can't see it being done.

[beefield]

> advanced user

Yep, the problem is that I have this conspiracy theory that Microsoft has designed Excel to be the ultimate booster of Dunning-Krueger effect so that most people think they are advanced users [1] while they actually have no clue what they are doing. All the while giving no protection whatsoever against those Dunning-Krueger cases.

[1] I am very much afraid I belong to this group.