I have been working at steaming and bending wood pressure strips for an ASL form and it seemed that the wood didn't want to stay bent very well.  It'll do, but the spring back was surprising.

A few searches on the subject turned up the fact that air dried wood holds its shape well but kiln dried doesn't.  Apparently the fast dry causes cell collapse making the wood reluctant to retain its shape.

Yep! Dead right! It's one of the reasons why kiln dried wood is no good for hornbows like the Turkish ones I make. It also won't bend as far and splinters differently when you try tpo go too far. Green wod will lift a splinter and then stop, kiln dried once a splinter starts the whole lot is toast.
You'll get people who will swear there is no difference...but there is!