I was looking at this thread with interest this morning and will set aside some time to watch the videos and might try some of the tasting. I have a funnel, the same soup thermos you have and Hario V60 filter papers in abundance so it could be interesting! I think my wife would want to take part too.
I always struggle to describe flavours, if I taste something I'll know a flavour is there but struggle to say what it is. But if I read the tasting notes I can then say "yes, that's it!" Had it the other day with a grapefruit taste. I have heard you can train yourself to be better.
I know a few coffee super-tasters and their ability to do this is amazing, I think a bit does come down to the individual and their tastebuds, when I looked into it once some people are just more pre-disposed to be better at tasting. Swings and roundabouts, because if you're a super-taster you taste everything, whereas at least for normal folk your enjoyment isn't always ruined by a slight off-flavour.
Edit: the instructions for the hot steeping don't mention rinsing the filter paper. This is pretty standard for coffee brewing to get rid of any papery taste, not sure if the normal paper they use for this doesn't have that problem. But I'll probably give it a rinse anyway since I'd be using coffee filters.