Freehand fanatic - AI postscript fills and clipping mask

FH will always be my primary illustration program (started with 3.1) but i am now learning the horror that is AI.

2 simple questions that i would like to ask other FH users that also know a little about Ai.

Is there a postscript fill facility in AI? (I am trying to create a simple hatch fill (a snack in FH!) without using clipping mask)

When I use clipping mask in AI the path that is doing the clipping disappears is this normal?

Also is there any danger of this great forum disappearing in the future as I often refer to it.

Thanks in advance

All power to the greatness that is FreeHand!!