Yep, because there was no one to help him.
Showcases mastery over the form. Does not mean that he was able to do that in WCI.
Here is Luffy right after the explosion:
Not even close lol. I actually went from debating FOR Doffy < Cracker to my actual position on the topic after over almost a year of debating on WG lmao.
Either way, add Zoro and King to that as well