I enjoyed your story.
Large flights of Whistlers leave a lasting impression, and true appreciation of how they got that name. It is something that you never forget, especially on snowy mornings. You hear them long before you see them, and the dog, or dogs, are always searching the sky.
Even though I have made, and carved several rigs of GE's over the years. I now use just one oversize canvas wire drake, on the outside of the spread. A old time gunner gave me that advice many years ago. I did not believe it until I tried it.
GE's are notorious for not tolling all the way in most times. The one drake decoy brings them into 25-30 yards for some reason. Very good range. When they fall and splash on the upwind side of the spread, ya bat clean up real fast. Sometimes a decoy or two will catch some shot, but it's well worth it. Loosing birds always leaves you wondering...