Not atypical methods, but I now have a much deeper understanding of grafting than I did a few years ago.
Grafting books tend to describe each method, one after another, as if all had equal chances of success. This is not so.
There are many variables to success, but I am a big fan of cleft (or whip) grafting over any kind of bark or veneer grafting in my environment. Especially when top-working a tree.
I've had birds and wind destroy some bark and veneer grafts, but never a cleft graft. Perhaps more importantly, cleft grafting onto new shoots after main branches are cut, as Carlos does with Avocado and I do with Mango, gives each scion a strong flow of sap it doesn't seem to get in bark/veneer grafts. That significantly increases the take percentage.