Well, I shouldn't have seemed to disparage the wider neck, I haven't played on them much since doing some classical in college, and it's probably just a matter of adjusting when you're used to one or the other.
But Don's hand position is good advice either way. Some pretty good players do the thumb-over stuff, but that doesn't make it a good way to learn to do barres.

Yes, there's nothing like a good instrument. Every Larrivee I've ever picked up was a pretty darn good guitar with smooth action. And if you don't want a lot of goofy looking doo dads inlaid in your guitar they are cheaper. (I'd pay more to have that stuff removed.) I happen to like the sound of steel strings for most of what I play, don't care to debate that point.