> ...or if workflow has changed so drastically that I am just makin n00b errors, please tell... :D

No, basic workflow has remained the same...


> (So many operations (loft etc.) work that I began to doubt that my
> workflow might might be the culprit.)

Well for extrude for example if you want to use the mouse you do have to switch to some view that is not looking directly down on the extrusion direction.

So for example if you draw a curve flat in the Top view, then select it and do an extrude, it is normal that moving the mouse around within the same Top view will not have any effect, it's trying to track along a line exactly vertical to that view so you need to switch to some other view so you can pick a point in elevation in order to get any result... Is that possibly what you're seeing?

- Michael