It's wonderful that you've timed your trip with one of the few snow cycles they've had this season! Buono Fortuna!
I don't know Tahoe like Jbotti (or any local)-but I've had the opportunity to visit on 4 occasions (all April Spring skiing trips...so my comments are probably seasonal specific).
But here are my impressions: I love 'Second -Tier' Tahoe. Don't get me wrong, Squaw is the extreme capital of USA for a very good reason and it's a must on anyone's agenda who skis in Tahoe. But, I have had great success skiing the steeps of other hills in Tahoe, and exploring the lesser traveled places. Also, Though I agree with most that Heavenly is over-crowded and very 'resortish' in a bad way-It's expert terrain is wonderful, and will have the lowest crowds of any expert terrain anywhere in Tahoe (but you'll have to initially ski through the gaper masses to get to it!).
1. Steeps-Yeah, Kt-22 and the Palisades (and the zKitchen Wall etc) are landmark, must ski areas for anyone who wants to sample some of the best in-bounds steep skiing in America. However, You'll ski those steeps with lots of other people (and many of them fairly world class in their abilities).
Alternate options: Mt Rose Chutes, and Mott and Killibrew Canyons at Heavenly. Yep, heavenly has a big cookie cutter crowd on much of the mountain: However, Everytime I've skied there I've been all but alone in Mott and Killibrew canyons (and the skiing has been steep and excellent)
2. Trees: Sierra at Tahoe...I didn't really understand why the ponderosa pine was considered the greatest tree-skiing landscape until I skied here. Heavenly's Trees are also excellent. Oh, neither of these tree skiing areas are anything like what Bushwacker usually skis
-far more open and no scrub bushes.
3. Off-piste Terrain-Kirkwood! Not the steepest (but definitely the deepest!)-but the best and most varied off-piste skiing available in greater Tahoe. Plus the place is beautiful and has the coolest vibe of any tahoe destination resort.
I always describe Kirkwood as the California version of Alta except it has More sunshine, fewer beards, and prettier girls!
LP-I like the Mt. Rose/ A-Basin analogy. I hadn't thought of that before, but they do have some similarities.
4. Bumps: Well sure, Squaw turns out the bump super heroes like Moseley and all; but for my money, on a spring afternoon, you can't beat laps on the FACE at Heavenly. Seriously, skiing down gunbarrel and the face with the sun shining,staring at the huge, beautiful blue lake (it's the run they use in all the post cards, it really looks like you are skiing into the lake) on the biggest, baddest bumps in the region while everyone else is top loading down the lift to get back to the casino is a can't miss great feeling.
Man, you got me all nostalgic for a Sunny ski day in Tahoe.