You're right it doesn't give you the hands on feel but it does give you a reference to start with.

Yes they will. 90% of it has to do with how the stock fits you. Assuming the same rifle but different cartridges you can at least get an idea of recoil numbers. Chuck hawks recoil table simply takes into account actual weights and velocities rather than accounting for the subjective "feel" of different stock designs and shooters build, "softness", etc.