To your fourth point, until you get comfortable telling the front from the back, you could always pin a removable stitch marker (one that has an opening on it like (https://www.amazon.com/Elisel-Colorful-Knitting-60-PCS/dp/B09XGQH5HB)[this] to the front of the work so you have the visual reminder.
There’s a good one on page 145 of Norah Gaughan’s “Knitted Cable Sourcebook,” which you might find in your local library (link takes you to a Kindle edition on Amazon).
I love all of the Hitomi Shida & Gayle Roehm Japanese Stitch Books. They’ve got Kindle editions on Amazon, if you’re not eager to add big heavy paperbacks to your life right now.