Someone said that a small cracker on your open hand would hurt and burn, but if held closed in your fist, you'd have a hole in it.
Then there are also illegal fireworks like 'Bex nitraat' (Bex is the brand name, and nitraat doesn't require translation) from Poland. Those will maul the entire hand, and are a guaranteed loss of fingers.
There is other illegal stuff like a 'Vlinderbom' (Butterfly bomb, known as a Spanish cracker in other countries). These have the explosive power of a small hand grenade and the aftermath of using one incorrectly doesn't need elaboration.
Also dry ice in bottles was fun and spud cannon got me interested in physics. Good times.
2) you might be right I didn't pursue video evidences of shredded fingers and stayed with the dude saying