Those who fly Clouds a lot tell me that they go upwind well. Really well. That has been my experience. I don't have the same other kites and years of experience that Point Omega has, but have come to the same conclusion. I flew the Cloud back to back a bunch with my RRD Vision and Naish Cult and I can certainly get upwind a bit more with the Cloud. I don't know why. I don't know if the kite moves itself upwind more or it has something to do with flying faster due to the thin leading edge. I just can.
I have lent the kite to dozens of riders. It is a different enough kite that it takes time getting used to. Some seem to do so in one session...and some require a dozen. I haven't been able to relate in necessarily to experience. Sometimes the most experienced kiter has so many habits for other kites that it takes him longer to get it....to optimize it...than with a new kiter. It doesn't seem predictable. Like getting on a moderately different board.
There seems to be so much technique involved in everything about kiting...I realize I cannot fairly comment on some equipment until I have used it 10 or 20 times to minimize to operator effect. When I switched from surfboard to foilboard...I would have thought the foil was funky for quite a while...but I know it was me that was funky.
The Clouds are good for me on the foilboard. Major depower is helpful. Super fast turning to keep up with foil turning is helpful. Super drift when going downwind is helpful. That is my experience after 50 or 60 sessions. Cannot comment on the Storm kites.