I too have been switching it up with my Ayane, I'm now trying some up close stuff and I've been confusing people and making them think I'm going to do something else. That method also has been helping me in my Kokoro training as well.
I don't know I find it more useful when I actually fight, other really good Ayane's and work from there. Also I'm the same way too I like to switch up between mid-range and close range in a fight
Same here I keep getting told that I have to play her mid-range and when I do people get upset and say that I can play close range and then it starts to get on my nerves and confuses me.