But my hand planing is dire.

Pay a lot of attention to sharpening and adjusting the plane - you
can't beat having somebody show you how. Buy an old Stanley No:4, the
steel in the modern ones doesn't measure up. Practice lots.

Anyone ever used one with an electric planer?

They can probably be counted on half their fingers.

A power plane is a crude tool by comparison, more useful for taking
out the donkey work before finishing with a hand plane.

In their place, they're phenomenally useful - but that place is not
accurately trueing up a board.