Using a table's data type...

When I create a new table, I have also created a new data type (whose name
is the same as the name of the table). For example:

CREATE TABLE customer(
customer_id integer,
customer_name varchar );

creates a new data type named 'customer'. I can now create another table
that includes a column whose type is 'customer':

CREATE TABLE customer_archive(
customer_info customer,
mod_date timestamp );

Now, a couple of really basic questions.
1) Is there a way to insert a row into this table?

2) Since customer_archive.customer_info is defined to be a composite
column, how would I address each member?

3) Is this just a really dumb idea on my part? Maybe the fact that I can
use a table's type to define a column is just accidental and I really
shouldn't do that.

Any opinions, answers, or documentation references are appreciated. Thanks.

-- Murphy

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