I don't know very much about the "real" CTE as Stan teaches it, but I'd like to learn from him and I enjoy reading the threads until they become cat fights.
I use TOI and don't consider it an "aiming" system...I use it as a "playing" system where I position my cue ball so that I can use a TOI and maneuver the cue ball around the table without spin.
I, honestly, think that I use a "blend" of lots of things when aiming since I learned at a very early age working in a pool hall and have played for over 50 years.
I only play for a few hours each Sunday and I have been running racks and racks of 9-ball when my "eyes are right", so I must be doing something correctly.
I think there is a stage where people "overthink" aiming and it hurts them more than helping them. For me, I know when I will be able to hit the balls good after only looking at a few shots. I believe that "seeing" the line is the key to making balls. Some days I know I will not be playing as well as others because I know from my first few looks that my eyes are not focusing for some reason.
Aloha.