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
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.