With all due respect, my dad was a cabinetmaker, brother was a part-time luthier, and I've been making models since 1966 and working with CA since 1986. Not exactly a noob. I've never had reliable structural joints using CA on ply. Might be the ply, usually high quality. I don't know. But I rely more on aliphatics for important areas.

As for perforating the wood for glue penetration, I'd only do that in an attempt to make Gorilla Glue or other foaming type to work. The voids being created only decrease the surface area to be bonded. I'd much rather scuff with sandpaper.