Neilr
I would not totally agree with how you have worded this statement -
heading = track + drift
you need to choose a drift compensated heading that will ensure the aircraft tracks directly to a ground point - choosing one well ahead and keeping it fixed in the window will ensure you fly an accurate track which is generally what we care about - this will also ensures accurate heading maintainence ...
This is fine if you pick a ground feature that is offset from directly in front of you by your drift,and you are keeping it offset. You are then not pointing straight at your feature and if you do this will
tend to turn directly towards it anyway.
If you are pointing straight at it though you WILL drift.
Try it sometime in a strong wind - pick a point (flying crosswind) and aim straight at it - note your heading - fly 10 mins towards it, then look at your heading again.
As for
it should be a gentle lowering of the nose of the nose just enough to look ahead - so gentle your pax would not even notice
If that is all you are lowering the nose I doubt it would be enough to satisfy most instructors/examiners as sufficient lookout in the climb! I have had a number of students use this with me and to lower the nose enough to clear properly has always seemed a clumsy manouver!