Don`t you lose sound quality with a bit of the guitar missing? Would it be alright for a beginner to get a cutaway guitar? Please explain.

There is some loss of sound quality, but the reasining is the same as an electric guitar, for the ease of playability on the higher frets. Also to consider is the make of the instrument, as the quality will be substantially better on a better guitar. The high end guitars use better woods such as Norwegian spruce tops, and rosewood sides and backs.