found this launcher last week and I've been playing with it since.
It still works with "muscle memory" but instead of placement, it's the gesture (or direction) that triggers the action. With time it can become quicker and easier, i think, than lawnchair, eblan &c or search based launchers
all you see is a black screen (in dark mode) until you touch the screen and slide your fingers towards a direction (that you configured for the app of your choice.)
the length of the slide gives you more options. For example I touch anywhere on the screen and push my finger towards 1 o'clock and i can open droidify. If i slide further, i can open fDroid itself.
you can also use it like another app, instead of making it your default launcher, to try it out. Close it like any other app and you're back on your habitual launcher.
I did slide my fingers, I did exactly as you said, but there was nothing showing. I sometimes released my finger and one of my apps would open. But it was just dark.
So yeah, not a user error.