Isn't the second one in the ISI 5 footwork a closed choctaw? Anything closed is always harder IMO
Power 3's use choctaws.. that's the step from backwards to forwards. Forward spins also use them from the back XO entrance... so a skater has usually been "introduced" to the choctaw before they understand that it is an actual turn.
Personally... I think inside mohawks are easiest (forwards or backwards), then forward 3's, then outside mohawks, then choctaws, then back 3's, then brackets, then rockers and counters are about the same.
I agree that brackets are easily cheated into 3's by some skaters, but that really only happens when they aren't done with enough speed or a deep enough edge (I mean on close to a flat). At speed it's impossible to really "cheat" a bracket if the edge going into it is good.
I've been working on rockers and counters lately as my coach has been having me work on forward to backwards and forward again power pulls - no change of foot, all I'm allowed is a turn and it's much easier to do them with a rocker or a counter.