Moving on to other objects. I am not sure how to start fading out the lure. We're still very much in the beginning stages but unsure how to go about starting.
I faded the lure really late. Like, I still lure occasionally know despite having it on verbal. I'd probably wait until you're getting the behaviour readily before worrying much about fading the lure.
Mechanically, I'd fade it the same way you fade any lure. Start using an empty hand, use some tricky slight of hand and reward from the other hand.
I think it's awesome and hilarious that we're going to have a whole forum filled with handstanding dogs soon.