I think the relationship between the forms is a good thing to point out, but I also feel that simply calling them "verbs" and "nouns" goes a bit too far and is

I think the relationship between the forms is a good thing to point out, but I also feel that simply calling them "verbs" and "nouns" goes a bit too far and is potentially confusing. For example, nouns can be the subject of a sentence, but na-adjectives cannot. 「先生が読みました。」◯ 「元気が読みました。」(incorrect) 「元気で読みました。」◯ As for verb conjugations, 扱い can function as a noun, despite being formed from the verb 扱う.