Weird. The device should auto-switch between tablet and desktop mode whenever you dock the screen to the keyboard, and it's generally a feature very easy to notice (it also should have a switch in the notifications/actions bar). But I guess, it's not easy enough.

that tutorial is an absurdly long way to get there.

notification bar > Tablet mode

Its a button just like enabling wifi, bluetooth, projecting, focus, night mode.

The notification icon isn't an intuitive place to find system controls like this. I almost never use the notification bar but every once in a while something like this happens.

I use the notification bar all the time, to get to those controls. Never use it for notifications. Might as well be the quick control toggle center.