Meniscus and guys, this is one of those eternal what-if's--just what it's like on the other side of the divide. But to start with the positive great good news: orgasm is almost certainly the same for cuts as it is for uncuts, since the penis is only a trigger for it. Orgasmic sensation fortunately takes place inside the body!
I am intact and a rabid Intactivist (= an activist working for the abolition of Routine Infant Circumcision), but I was reluctant to weigh in on the sensitive issue of this thread until Meniscus broke the ice for me. First, I suspect that how much pleasurable sensation a man gets from his penis (C or U) depends to some extent on the man himself and his particular physiology. Just as some people, for example, get pleasure from giving and receiving a back-rub (I do) and others don't (my partner absolutely not, darn it), some men (either C or U) like playing with their penis longer before masturbation or intercourse just to savor the milder pleasures; others are not too interested in that. However, it has been my (pretty damn wide) observation that U's, as a general rule, prefer more foreplay time than do C's. My enjoyment with one of my favorite fuckbuddies (tightly C) was each time reduced because he had absolutely no patience with foreplay--was driven to rush to orgasm. Certainly, as I've said earlier, that could have been just the individual...but I'm sure that was not the case. Again, as a rule, U's appear able to reach orgasm, by whatever means, more easily and more quickly than C's...and without the near torture of the head that some men seem to have to apply. Gay men will have observed this phenomenon already. Straights can get an idea of it by watching a number of videos, preferably gay ones for the larger number of cocks.
Yes, the foreskin is anything but the useless flap of insensitive skin that many "experts" call it. It gives a great deal of pleasure in and of itself--mainly because of three specialized structures: the frenulum (the most obviously sensive area of all, esp. right at the tip of the "poutspout" on the underside of the penis); the ridged band (a drawstring-like ring circling the foreskin at its forward tip (contributes sensation when it tightens around the shaft upon retraction of the skin); and the stretch-receptor nerves scattered throughout (give a pleasurable sensation when the foreskin is pulled back from its forward position and stretched taut [some C's get some of this effect, too, I've noticed]). There are physiologically explainable reasons for these results, but too complicated for this post. If you're interested in pursuing the subject further, google some of these words, or better yet, go to some of the major (anti)circumcision-information sites for extensive explanations and illustrations.
Yes, masturbation is possible without lube for U's, but also for
some C's, as Meniscus notes. But even for U's, sometimes a little spit on the glans helps a good bit. Too, I occasionally use lube just for different sensations. For one thing, with it I can enjoy approximating some C masturbation techniques--types that would not be possible for me without it. And indeed there are a number of jack-off techniques exclusive to one status or the other. Those found on various American Internet sites are mainly suitable, in my opinion and practice, for C's (with no recognition of that fact). The opposite is usually true of, say, German and French sites (i.e., European). For myself I have developed a repertoire of six or eight U techniques that I like, one or two utilizing the forward part of the foreskin only (I have about one-quarter inch overhang without stretching when erect). But on the other hand, I have seen C techniques that I would dearly love to try out--just don't work for me.
Two by-the-by suggestions: (1) Would it be impossible for even you straight guys who are curious to get an U buddy to demonstrate his foreskin's workings for you...? Would be a touchy request though, I suppose. I was happy to demonstrate for the edification of my straight college roommate, for example. (But of course it didn't hurt that he was cute as the proverbial bug and thereafter let me give him a handjob--which he not too reluctantly reciprocated!) (2) Have any of you considered foreskin restoration? Google that phrase and you'll find much informaton, with illustrations of actual men's actual progress. True, restoration cannot replace any of the three structures I mentioned earlier, but testimony from manymany restored men is ecstatic--wonderful, unexpected results that they swear by.
Meniscus, the frenulum is occasionally left by the surgeon by making a sort of V on the underside, sloping the cut up toward the glans on either side of that little tether. That's not done too frequently though, for whatever reasons. I suspect a major reason for the doctor is that it's just easier and quicker to take everything without having to work around the frenulum. But to give the surgeon the benefit of the doubt, sometimes the frenulum may be so short that it would not allow the skin, before or after circumcision, to lie flat on the shaft. (But misdiagnosis of that condition [= frenulum breve] in infants and young children is a leading cause of circumcision in this country.) ~ As for photos, I have seen examples on LPSG of circumcised penises with the frenulum retained, but for the life of me can't recall names at the moment. When my income-tax torture is over in a couple of days, I will search out at least one for you, Meniscus, and PM you the name (and anyone else if they'd like).
Sorry to post at such length, but I think that if the question is asked, it should be answered more or less sufficiently. Hope I've been able to do that. Any questions that anyone has that I might possibly be able to answer (and I would directly tell you if I couldn't), I'd be delighted to hear by PM. --Peace and enjoyment be unto us all, brothers.