Are non-GFCI outlets that are downstream of a GFCI outlet ground fault protected if they are fed from the GFCI outlet's load side?
If those non-GFCI downstream outlets were not fed from the GFCI outlet's load side but rather just had their hot, neutral and ground wires spliced to those feeding the GFCI outlet, would the effect be the same as if there was no GFCI outlet on the circuit at all?
Yes, that is the entire purpose of the load terminals of the GFCI. You can imagine that the protection element of the GFCI extends both to its receptacles, and then just imagine the load pair as another "receptacle".
As to the second part, yes, if you just connect the terminals together "before" the GFCI protection is in place, the GFCI will have no effect - remember, it can only sense problems on its own receptacles and its load terminals.
Are non-GFCI outlets that are downstream of a GFCI outlet ground fault protected if they are fed from the GFCI outlet's load side?
Yes.
If those non-GFCI downstream outlets were not fed from the GFCI outlet's load side but rather just had their hot, neutral and ground wires spliced to those feeding the GFCI outlet, would the effect be the same as if there was no GFCI outlet on the circuit at all?
Yes. The GFCI outlet will only protect its own outlets and any outlets that are connected via it's 'Load' connections. Anything spliced before the GFCI will behave as if there is no GFCI.
The most important thing is to make sure you connect the GFCI to power from the panel via the 'Line' connections. If you connect to the Load connections, the GFCI functions just like a cheap $1 non-protected outlet, and provides no extra protection.
Yes to the first question. No to the second. The GFCI protects everything downstream of its load side only.
