🚀 go-pugleaf

Oh yes, as to the original question, I originally worked for a great designer, who I thought knew every face ever created. So I tried to match him. My system is pretty similar to those mentioned.  

First, use broad categories (serif and sans serif, decorative, etc.). Then memorize the classics (like Bembo, Baskerville, Garamond, Helvetica, Univers) concentrating on learning the shapes of characters that are quite different per face (ie. lowercase e in Garamond vs Baskerville, or the lowercase t in Univers vs. Helvetica, or Gill's lowercase a vs many other sans serifs).  

But that was in the late 70s, before the typeface explosion that accompanied the desktop design explosion. Then, in the US, we usually chose from Berthold, Merganthaler/Linotype, Alphatype, Compugraphic (help me here with the others) for text.  

Now there are rip-offs galore, which only makes it harder. Work with Adobe faces (which include the classics, from some of the best foundries) to start with, or another reputable type foundry. I still look for the differences between lower case a, e and g, or uppercase M, R, W or whatever else stands out as unique to the face, to test it against catalog listings.