I guess it all depends on the novice. With respect to talent set, there isn't much difference between 100' tree between the houses and a 50' tree. Except for fatigue, especially as induced by fear, I personally think it is a lot harder to take out the branches closer to the roofs than far above. But that is my perspective.
Now as to being 80+ feet up on my third day of climbing? I would never have been ready for that. But I went from climbing trees with no training whatsoever to becoming proficient in an aerial. Climbing with no training whatsoever is NOT the way to learn. And they didn't have much internet back then, either.
Note for removing the tall conifers: A lot of guys like to climb that pole stripping branches off as they go up. Novices that are unaccustomed to spurs tend to leave stubs to stand on, but this just hangs up all the branches when they are coming down on the bull rope. Other guys strip all the branches until they get to the nice big top that they feel comfortable cutting off. If you haven't ever seen this before, those tall pines can throw you around like a bug as the top is released. Just imagine riding the trunk, rather than standing comfy in a bucket truck.
The best way to avoid that wild ride is to leave a bunch of branches on one side, perpendicular to the direction you intend to drop the top. Those branches will dampen the movement, and make it all slow and easy. Then... just keep cutting off chunks and branches as you come back down. Safely, with no wild rides at the top.