Cursive handwriting-- you raise a very interesting point. Maria Montessori came to the conclusion that cursive should be taught first, and printing second, if at all.  This was based on the observations that (1) printing involves straight-line movements that are unnatural for the hands; and (2) it wasted time to teach printing if cursive was what you planned to write with for the rest of your life. 
Its a very interesting idea-- I've started using the KUMON 'write and wipe" cards with my son, but I have never seen a cursive version.

And I'm also grateful for all of the ideas here.  I don't post much but I read a lot.

I also used YBCR in combination with the Doman materials.  When my son (2.5) started to lose interest I went back to something that had worked before:  Making the books myself, a la the Doman method.  The difference was like night and day!
 
 Use your own photos-- of family members, places you have been, etc. etc., and make simple sentences for each photo.  Keep the type fairly large-- an inch and a half high, and not too many words on a page.  Typically the photo goes on one page and the sentence goes on the page facing it.  How you make the book is up to you.  I know people who do them on MyPublisher, where you electronically create the book and they print it and send it to you (and its not that expensive).  Or you can make the book by hand-- print the photos and paste them onto pages (actually clear packing tape is best- prevents the edtes from peeling).  For pages I used the blank 12'x12" cards that you can get from the Doman website.  The advantage of making the book by hand is that you can use photos from anywhere-- last year's calendars, second hand books, old posters, etc. 

I'm not sure why this made such a big difference.  The obvious explanation - using images that are a part of his own environment-- may be part of it, but not all of it.  My son vastly prefers the books I've made regardless of subject.  Doman focuses a lot on type size and so forth, so that may be part of it as well.

Another thing that helped -- making my own DVDs. VERY simple, just little 5-minute setments- set up the camera and go through the flashcards as if your child were in front of you, (Doman method/made my own flashcards). I guess it may sound a little silly, but I work full time and doing this also served as a way to connect with my son.

Hope this helps!