I appreciate the extreme forms of paddle powered boats., but personally avoid the higher risk and technical aspects, considering it to be too much like work. The variety of boats and the seaworthiness of paddle craft defies description, as does the refined technique of so many forum members.
Despite the many training options available, I prefer and enjoy learning by trial and error. Doing so means limiting the excitement, but there is still enough excitement to go around. Reading about the extremes is enough for me.
So right about teaching the bow paddler to be aware of the stern of the boat’s needs. My wife likes to do a static bow draw to help in a turn more than a pry. But then we don’t do WW together. I like that cross strokes were also brought up. Like you I learned canoeing on my own before I saw and read about technique. I like to say we all start out thinking we know how to paddle because we make the boat go. That is until we are shown efficient technique. There is joy to be found with a paddle. They are the real magic wands of the water.