handwriting is pretty much pure muscle memory – regardless of which direction you head, it’s going to require practice to learn a new style and practice to break old habits
cursive was based off of drawings (copperplate etchings), not writing, which is why it comes across as hard to read and feels artificial
italic is an older style out of the Renaissance that has the advantages of being based off of writing, is far more legible, looks just as elegant, and (with practice) can be faster than both print and cursive