Sam,

I always like to read articles like yours. You write about noticing something after a dozen years and then read this book which gave you some AH HA.. insight. A few years ago I visited my home SDA church which had 2 different pastors. I was baptized there 45 years ago. The assoc pastor presented a sermon that was not typical but one I recognized the homiletics right away. I spoke with him after and mentioned a book from a former SDA GC ministerial secretary and he replied that reading that same  book made him realize that he had been preaching wrong for 25 years.
I converted from a non-denom mega church that has a highly regarded, pastor-teacher leading it. I presently attend 3 churches...1 SDA and 2 non denom , one of which has over 12,000 attenders on a regular basis. I have heard  various sermons from about 50 churches over 50 years.
I am glad you are searching for progress and improvement. Too many SDA pastors are in a, I am in need of nothing, Laodicean pastoral rut.