steve's ''one two three, four'' string the low is easy to block when he gets to 4 it's usually a low you can confirm this by watching the animation (he also has a mid mixup but they're confirmable just wait for the low animation before crouching or crushing) In fact you could probably crush it with ub4 or u1+2 (etc) Anyway that whole string is easy to block when you get the hang of it Basically when you hear him say ''one two three'' prepare for low attack :)
2d3 is a move i think we all forget to use in neutral it's not particularly good in terms of damage or even speed but it works as a mixup / poke (high low string with faster startup than db1,2) Also potential entry for FC df1 and other mixups
also 2,3 is interesting especially for balcony break (oni kick can balcony break at an angle parallell to the wall, idk if it's ''left side only'' or a full 180 degree i forgot) also flea jump can balcony break at all angles (180 degrees) iirc
Firstly CD+1 is the faster 17f command, d/f+1+4 is 20f command, I always use the faster one. Secondly d/f+4 creates good spacing due to which most punishes on CD+1 whiff and somewhat makes it safe on block, but remember it is still -17 and long range launchers like bears d/f+2,1 will still hit