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I've only been riding trials regularly for about 1,5 years so I find anything with a level surface way easier to balance on than on natural stuff (sloping rocks, trees etc.). But because I live in the countryside in Ireland there isn't much street riding available so I ride mostly on self built obstacles at my house or whatever else I can find locally. So like others said it's mostly down to availability and what's you're used to.  Also my 24inch bike is not ideal for natural riding. Another thing for me is that I'm still learning a lot and rarely get things on first try so end up bashing into obstacles a lot. Most local benches are made by my neighbors in a Men's Shed and I would be mortified if I left any bash guard gouges or tyre marks on them so that's another reason to ride self build or natural for me. Kinda no choice really! I'm actually thinking of building my own 'fake park bench' so I can practice on that and get it off the bucket list :) 

I don't believe in such thing as a "beginner bycicle", it doesn't have an engine, you already have total control over it from the start. the only issue can be the budget and choices like chassis and wheel size, but what they call beginner bikes is only because they are cheaper, but it's totally fair to get an expensive bike as a beginner if your budget allows it, as a matter of fact I'd highly recommend to get a super pro bike from the beginning if you have the money for it and already know you're gonna love it (like for example I started on my brother MTB and when I learned rear wheel hops I was sure I was gonna love trial and it was true). only thing I'll tell you is that if you're still very young and aim to become the best in the world then you should maybe start with a trash bike, this way you'll have to work a lot on technicque and when you'll get a proper bike you'll be able to jump to the moon. but if you think it's too late then this would just be a waste of time.

there aren't a lot of places to do natural riding in my zone, plus I think it's a little more difficult than street, and it won't even be my style as I'm much of a street rider (even though I'd love to have a more trial style). on the motorcycle though I ride only natural because it's illegal to go on street.

on my bike I have the maxxis holy rollers, I love that they have coloured writing on them. but I've just started street trial so I can't feel the difference between tyres (and never even had the chance to) but looking at what they are saying about the holy rollers I might consider buying another tyre next

I've been in a similar situation with my dad's beta rev 3, he bought it in 2004 but forgot which year plastics he put on. I simply googled every year of production of the Rev 3 until I found it had 2006 plastics and graphics. unfortunately though, montesa unlike beta doesn't change the bike graphics every year so this method won't be precise. Another option could be asking on reddit on r/trials. even another option is looking at the chassis numbers, montesa should have a page in their website were you put in the chassis numbers and it gives you all of it's documentation, or at least the website of beta usa has it. could you please attach a image of the handlebar? you're lucky to have found a motorcyclist like me here.