As is so often the case when doing anything with #emacs I was thinking too small.
I went looking for some tools to help me comprehend and refactor #python and the answer turned out to be "Oh, would you like to install the whole LSP suite? The one minor mode that gives you refactoring and comprehension across every language ever (assuming it has a language server) because it's all just Turing machines, baby?!"
I swear, sometimes emacs is like reverse-C++. I go looking for a hand and it tosses an entire Frankenstein at me.
@trelane lsp-mode. Basically covers all the LSP basics.