Hi Marc,
good post!
I use the exercises you describe, to illustrate the same points. I look forward to the opportunity of practicing with you, when I get over to your neck of the woods.
There are a couple of sayings I heard my teacher use, when I first started, and didn't understand at the time, but do now. - "Aikido is really difficult to learn, because it is so easy to do." and "If you want to get really quick, practice really slowly". He did like his paradox
regards
Mark