I can about guarantee its BOTH and NEITHER... at times.
Its a hard wood, doesn't take stain great, some work required to make it nice but many members have discovered very nice finishes with a myriad of stock finishes. Take your time and like most things the "devil" is in the details. So spend the time in the prep and you will be rewarded with a finely finished stock.
I have used linspeed for over thirty years. But linseed is good albeit slower. More recently I have been using tongue oil with good results. The secrete is light coats and numerous coats at that! Sanding/steel wool in between coats. Matte finishes are easy too with 0000 wool after allowing a couple days for a good hard finish.
CW