Pawn Development

Does early pawn development increase opportunities for better end game?  How do you balance between a closed and protected king and forcing pawns down your opponents throat?   Do pawns that are moved  passed center board position have a better chance of pawn promotion if opponents are holding theirs back to protect their King?  I am asking all these questions because I have noticed that very rarely do I promote a pawn, but many times I spend time guarding against promotion.  Thoughts?  Comments?  My win ratio is about 60% to 40%. Do those who force pawns have a better win ratio?  Any thoughts about a book that covers this well?

to answer one question if you castle on the opposite side of your oppenent i.e. you castle kingside and they castle queenside then it is usually a good idea to use your queenside pawns to smash his.

That could go either way. There could be significant gainage or loss depending on how you structure them.