I'm 100% self taught as a fly caster and the truth is, my instructor wasn't
too good.

Normally, my abilities are fine with me, although I do see a lot of other FF
point my direction and laugh as I cast. I can manipulate the line into
curves and around rocks and, generally, get it to serve it's fish catching
function ... at the short ranges I normally fish. I actually prefer the
challenge of getting closer to the fish to casting tests, anyway.

But, every year, about this time (Striper time and 'ain't nothing left but
stillwaters' time ) I become aware of my failing as a distance caster.

My question
...after a comment. I'm a little afraid to get too involved in trying to
relearn casting.
I fear three things
1) getting so self-conscious that I actually get worse ( I've seen golfer
friends do this, 'think' themselves into troubles ) and lose the short line
abilities seeking long line fishing I only do a few days / year .. I can
live without really casting a long line well, have for nearly 40 years
2) falling into a blame the tools trap, that sees me out senselessly
spending on new miracle rods ( I'm a sucker )
3) losing fishing skills to casting skills ( some [ not all TJ :-) ] really
skilled 'tight loop' guys I see can't fish worth a damn and it 'appears' to
be related to their casting skill ... they consistently choose to cast
rather than fish ... wailing a long line to the other side while wondering
what those things flashing away from their feet are :-)

Have any suggestions for videos/ books on long line casting? Have any
experience in "re-learning" to cast after many many years of doing it the
wrong way? Opinions on whether it would be worth the effort for a few days
a year, when much of my fishing sees me backing up to get far enough away to
cast? Opinions on where/ how to practice? ( I see suggestions to 'practice'
without a rod and such that stretch my old fart view of reality )