I prefer the crab technique until over the threshold, then straight with rudder, use aileron to compensate for drift.
I learned at an airport which was set at 30deg to the prevailing wind, and we were taught this basically from the word go. Now I teach at a different airport where we have two runways, and I still teach crab to those doing crosswind circuits. FWIW, we have the luxury of picking the days when we take students circuiting and can frequently (enough) fly in <5kts. This means that we don't need to teach them crosswind landings in strong crosswinds until around the steep turns/FLWOP level. Definitely before X-C though.
Some students do have trouble visualising what's meant to happen in the flare, and with these I show them the slip from the start of final so they know what it's meant to look like when you flare. Then I gradually decrease the distance they are flying out of balance setting themselves up for a wing drop until they only need to do it in the flare or just before. Thanks for that one Azzie.
Also, this means you need pretty good aileron effectiveness in the flare to combat drift, =>higher airspeed needed=> *no* flap.
My two cents worth.
As for the twin - get way too high on final and glide it in! Sure as hell won't bounce, and no dragging the U/C sideways. Better have those 8-foot oleos well pumped up though!
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Confident, cocky, lazy, dead.