Yes, the Canadian customs seem to be much friendlier than U.S. customs. U.S. Customs always seems to think you're up to something. While Canadian seems to approach you as a tourist first/threat second.
Basically, as said, don't be too specific with your plans. It comes off as rehearsed. But, don't be too vague. Be relaxed. I know if you're not use to it, it can be nerve-wracking, but border-crossing is actually rather easy. Even when I've had my car searched (four times), it is anything to worry about. One was due to me being suspicious (arriving in Canada in the middle of the night), and another was just a random search.
Now, the little asterisk next to the passport requirement... is that legally you do not need a passport to reenter your own country. Even well after the passport 'requirement' I've entered Canada and reentered the U.S. on the ground without a passport.
How? Well, Canada still doesn't require a passport to enter Canada. A license, birth certificate, or other government-issued I.D. is sufficient. And, if you're a U.S. citizen, they can't restrict you from reentry. If you state you're a citizen, the onus is on customs to prove you're not a U.S. citizen. Not the other way around. That's why the first question is citizenship. It's the starting point of what they can and can't do.
I was friends with a guy who was in Laredo frequently and crossed the border on foot and several times didn't even take his license with him (just cash) and got back into the U.S. easily. And that was even with the cartel troubles in Nuevo Laredo. And this was up to and including this year. And how long as the passport rule been in effect?
I do have a passport now because I planned non-Canadian travel. So far, I've used the passport two times. Another time I was in Detroit and crossed the border but my passport was at home in Ohio. So, no big deal. Again.
It's a scare tactic that has convinced many people to get a passport who generally don't cross the border enough to really need it. The only thing is it MIGHT speed up the process.
I've crossed the border into Canada in Calais (ME, old crossing), I-195, Peace Bridge, Rainbow Bridge (all in NY), Ambassador Bridge (MI), and US 395 (WA). I've reentered from Calais (ME), I-91 (VT), I-195, Peace Bridge, Rainbow Bridge (all in NY), Blue Water Bridge, Windsor Tunnel, Ambassador Bridge (MI), and I-5 (WA).
Only US395/I-5 and one of the trips across the Peace Bridge into Canada and out on the Ambassador Bridge did I have my Passport on me. And only the Calais and I-93 crossing was before the passport 'requirement'. The rest were since the passport was 'required' and I didn't have it (most of them) or didn't have it on me (Ambassador Bridge to Canada and Windsor Tunnel back).
And only a few of those times without a passport was my car inspected or was I detained any longer than the simply 5 or 6 questions at the booth. And even when I got sent for a secondary inspection, Canada was easy. U.S. asks about 10-15 questions because agreeing that you're a citizen. Not exactly waterboarding.
My favorite was when the U.S. customs asked me, about third question in, "What high school did you go to?" And then "What was their mascot?". Then handed me my license and registration and told me to have a nice day.