Hank: Do not use it to crochet directly, it can form a huge tangle and end in frustration. You must wind it before with the help of a winder or you can do it without it perfectly helping you with a chair or someone to hold the skein while you wind it into a ball. However, if you are going to dye the yarn, it is better to do it in the form of a skein.
The rest of the packaging come ready to use, although some may be more comfortable to crochet with than others.
For example, working with a cake is easier because it won’t be rolling all over the place, it stays more easily on a flat surface or in a yarn ball bowl.
I prefer the ball or the cake.
Like everything in life, it depends on each person and their tastes and habits to choose the packaging that they like the most.