Well actually this might be a hot take but I think loading it backwards could be better in some ways. If you flip the reel around, the tension goes the opposite direction and it forces you to rethink how you cast. I tried it once by accident and noticed my line came off smoother on the backcast. Not saying it's the right way, but it's kind of interesting how little things like that change your whole rhythm.

Oh man, I feel your pain. I had a similar nightmare with Vanguard where they "lost" my paperwork twice and gave me a different excuse each time. I mean, by the end I was ready to just drive to their office and hand it over in person.

Got a buddy who overheard a guy at a coffee shop say "I need someone who actually wants to build a life, not just fill a calendar." He used it on his girlfriend the next day. She was always too busy for him, booking stuff every weekend. It worked, she said he finally got it.