I think most people can become reasonably proficient on a box, push button and slate in fairly short order. Once you have them down I would find a couple different strikers that sound good on the slate, each one with a slightly different sound. Now with a box, push button, and a slate with say 3 strikers, you can in theory sound like 5 different hens. From one day to the next one sound might work better then an other so I like to have a lot of options. I would also get at least one locator call (crow, owl, peacock, etc). Once you have those friction calls down pat I would give mouth calls a try. Some people really take to them and are really good at them. They have a much steeper learning curve and I still kinda stink on them, but if you can learn to just do a simple series of clucks you will be sitting pretty. You can use the friction calls to that tom headed your way, and once he is committed you probably wont have to call much more. If he does hang up, or you need to get him to put his head up you can give him a couple clucks on that mouth call. That way you wont have to move and you can have both hands on your gun or bow.