well - they little buggers work quite well and -- you can't blow the plane sideways -unless it is setting on the ground
also has no effect on lateral drift - (relative to ground path)
crabbing the plane --will still allow it to drift with the wind
setting the crab angle is actually easier as the increase in forward area negates the (usually)excessive area aft the CP
But you are right on the tracking - the plane is destabilized in yaw.