-Of course it doesn't come looking like a mature, trained bonsai tree. It's a 39 dollar tree!! It won't be trained for that cost!!!!! A fully trained tree takes years and much care to create the illusion of an old, natural tree. I recommend getting a book and reading up a little before buying. For the price, this tree is a bargain!!
-As far as I can tell, the styrofoam peanuts are the only way to really protect the tree in transit. Yes, they're a pain to unpack (took 10 minutes) but it's worth protecting the tree. However, if you noticed, they use corn-starch based foam and they dissolve in water. They're not environmentally unfriendly. They're not petro-carbon based polymer. They're perfectly safe and if you don't want to throw them away, pour them in a bucket of water and pour the water on your lawn. It may even have some fertilizing properties.
p.s. I must concur with the over-abundance of environmental UNFRIENDLY peanuts that encased the tree. Wouldn't there be some other way to safely ship? I had a heck of a time getting the tree out of the box, and the peanuts into the trash!