Like most of Meguair's products in my experiences Ultimate Paste Wax is easy to use, especially if applied in a thin layer.  Applying the wax heavily simply wastes product and creates a mess as many others have noted.  One of the best ways to insure a proper application is to use a proper application pad.  Throw the pad that Meguiars provides in the trash.  Use a Lake Country CCS applicator pad instead.  You get two pads for $5.  But if you want the very best application method, use a DA polisher with a finishing pad.  This is how you get the thinnest application and it will buff right off because with a extremely thin layer the wax (actually a sealant) dries very quickly.According to AutoGeek, this wax can indeed be applied in the sunshine but I have never tried it.  My guess is that if the surface is warm, my guess is that you can wipe it on and the buff it off.  Since I've never tried this I really don't have a recommendation for applying in the sun but the commentary on this product at AutoGeek says the product is "foolproof" so it can't be too hard to do.The paste can be applied to the pad by patting the pad into the paste.  Wiping the pad in the paste will load it up too much though if you're starting out with a new pad, you may have to wipe the pad into the wax just a bit.  If you're doing it right, You will be putting down a layer of wax that will be hard to see.Once the applicator pad is properly coated with wax, it will be good to keep it protected until you need to wax again.  The paste can has enough internal space to store the pad.As for vinyl/rubber trim, I've come to change my mind about it staining these materials.  I have tried it on some vinyl trim and it seems to buff off just fine.I look for this wax to last about 3-4 months unless the car is exposed frequently to a combination of high temperatures and rain like what we see in Georgia during the summer.  I haven't had enough time to evaluate the wax's ability to cope with bird bombs and bug splats.