My point was that cowboy rescues don't work in real wind and waves. Paddle float rescues don't either. That doesn't mean that one shouldn't become proficient with them and I encourage people to learn them. However, paddlers shouldn't delude themselves into thinking they're safe if the cowboy or paddle float rescue is the only self-rescue tool they have. They may be sufficient for people who never leave flat, sheltered water, but once one expands one's paddling horizons, they are woefully inadequate.

I submit that the problems you had were just the tip of the iceberg and there is more involved than you think. While I don't disagree with your premise that at least part of the problem was nervousness and such, the real issue is that these rescues are slow and unstable in rough water. In order for either to work well in waves, the boat has to remain pointed into them. Unfortunately, the natural tendency of kayaks it to broach (turn sideways to the waves). That makes either of these types of rescues very difficult as the boat rolls side-to-side.

At a minimum, one needs to learn to re-enter and roll (on the side, not the ridiculous inverted version shown in books), unassisted and paddle-float assisted. Though not perfect, these techniques DO work in rough water.

Better yet, learn to roll and avoid exiting the boat in the first place. Self-rescue should be a last resort, not one's only resort.