While CMS technically works, I have been waiting since last summer on a set of templates that reduces friction in using the CMS functionality in Elements.
Am I alone in waiting for this? Or has is become available somehow without me noticing?
Not sure what you mean here, particular with your use of the word “templates.” As I outlined in my Little Book of Elements, start with the MicroBlog Project, which is 100% working. Once you understand how that Project works, transfer that knowledge to the site design you’re working on.
If you are looking for something a little more sophisticated, you can try what I did. I purchased the Maximillian template, studied it, then built my stuff from there. It was worth the price.