Buffer is not always a backbuffer. That is hardware dependant. On some devices GXBeginDraw returns a pointer directly to the display hardware buffer. Any modifications are displayed immediately.
There shouldn't be any flickering unless you are clearing the display and then filling it. If you must draw in that fashion, then use your own backbuffer, and blit the whole thing out to the display at once. For scrolling games it is best to blit to the display in the same orientation as the display hardware. That will eliminate diagonal tearing that would result otherwise.
Dan East