In General:

Nitrate dope is a lot "stickier" than Butyrate- it makes a much better bond to the wood. It usually will not lift or separate, and is usually just about impossible to get off, even if you want to. I have a model almost 30 years old where the nitrate dope is still tightly adhered to even brass fittings coming out of the plane. It dries quick and hard and sands easily. Butyrate is a little nasty and low grade by comparison. Nitrate isn't fuel proof, so you have to give your methanol-and-nitro fueled plane a final coat of clear epoxy. I don't know for sure, but I think nitrate is okay with auto-gas powered planes without fuel-proofer. And it's true, it does burn pretty quick, but 'explosive'? c'mon, get real. It's good stuff- a lot of guys who use it won't even use Butyrate.