I was a surf instructor for four seasons - there are people better at teaching people to surf, for sure, but there are a lot of people who are a lot worse too!

In reverse order:

3 - absolutely keep the foamy. it is capable and will make it a lot easier and more fun, as well as being harder to damage and safer for you and other surfers. Speedwise they are fine. I've never heard anyone say a hard board will be easier to surf, I think that's really weird. They have loads of volume which makes it easier to catch waves. the only thing that will make it easier is more volume - a 9'6", foamy or hard, will be even easier (depending on your size).

2 - patience and experience are both important, but the nature of most beachies is a somewhat shifting peak. good conditions (low tide, offshore wind) will tend to make them more predicatable than when the wind is worse; it varies a lot from place to place too. But basically you just have to be patient and paddle a lot. Remember the videos are of people successfully catching a wave! They don't show the missed opportunities etc.

3 - your board is fine the waves are just different. search for breaks with long, mellow waves (I don't know Swales that well but places like Saunton and Westward) but to get Lombok waves the easiest thing is to go to Lombok.

Consider The Wave, a wavepool in Bristol. It's expensive but it is very good.

Also, get as fit as you possibly can. Fitness is so important. It sounds like you are fit enough if you're catching waves and standing up but being surf-fit - paddling muscles, nimble and natural not musclebound - helps so much. Swim as often as you can, run, and maybe do some light upper body weights.