shouldn't be, but there is a difference.

Lumber yards screw you every chance they get. Long road of disgust for me.

-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability

Most 2X is because of thestock in this area isn’t pine. Could it be that the difference in density and workablity is due to the difference in species?
As to cedar, I haven’t a clue. My experience with cedar has been limited to scraps of fencing and used in intarsia.
Maybe Monte’s right. Crappy lumber to begin with.

-- Gene 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I think 2×2 is only a result of “culls” that couldn’t make it as something bigger (meaning it had some inherent flaws and should have been firewood).

I have never seen 2×2s that were straight enough to be usefull. I think 2×2s are the last cut from a board that won’t yield a 2×4. That last piece will be from the outer rings of the log it was cut from and have all kinds of stresses built up. The moisture content will probably be different going toward the outer rings. For that reason, if you start with a 2×12, you will find the wood is flatter and you can rip better pieces from it.
.

Yeah, HW stores sells great lumber ;-)

How well seasoned are these lumber?
Will wet wood sand well?

-- I'll be a woodworker when I grow up. HHHOPKS

I just finished most of my new deck, and nearly all the balusters were cut from cants made from pine beetle
killed trees. Even the select wood you buy, if you can even find select, has to be picked through to get good
boards. Most of the big old trees are gone, and it is going to be a while before any more are planted and get
to grow that big. One more thing we have to live with.

-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter