Hi Bookworm
I have asked around my elders and betters and all agree you are right about induced drag producing a reduction in AOA. Sorry I suggested a typo. All also agree that there is an upflow ahead of wings (as seen with flow visualisation) but the effect of which you speak is a downflow on top of the wing (which occurs aft of the leading edge) which can of course be represented as an apparent reduction in alpha.
With you now!
Regards
JF
PS Its never too late to learn I guess!