Excellent guide.
Personally I'm playing a Hexblade, started around level 7, currently level 13. It's almost embarrassing just how good it is, and I've actually got a couple of things that have never come into play (Accursed Specter, and Soul Cage spell). As a full caster, I'm not quite as good as the party Wizard, but the two of us pack a lot of punch in the tough fights. As a fighter, which is my main thing, I feel like I'm just as potent as the Fighter and the Monk, even if I don't use any spells. I have enough skills especially Cha-based ones. So really, I'm in danger of being that annoying PC who can do everything. I'm going to multi-class to Paladin from 14+, which I think will kick things to yet another level of power, as far as melee goes - scary stuff.
Obviously, any Warlock is somewhat dependent on the campaign/DM style, as far as long rests vs short rests goes - for me, I actually try and push things forward sometimes, rather than be that annoying player who wants a short rest all the time... a Hexblade doesn't need spells all the time, they are essentially a Fighter who can also put out some uber-spells from time to time - bordering on OP, IMO; as I say, it's almost embarrassing to be as good as the other fighter-types, and also as good as the spell-slingers (in short bursts). In the game I'm playing in, we're running around the outer planes, so it's been difficult to find Humanoids to kill - not a problem, just saying that over many levels of play, I still have loads of stuff I've only ever used once or even never, and he's still arguably the most powerful and versatile character in the group - just hitting stuff with his sword, he's a really good fighter type, then he's got options for spells, and other powers, that are like really good icing on a great cake. Oh, and loads of flavour, if bad-boy types are your thing.
I've also got a player in the game I run who's a Rogue/Hexblade, now level 7; to me it's not as focused as a pure Hexblade, maybe built for the long-run? I dunno, to me Warlock has loads of options already, multi-classing adds more options but do you really need them?
So in my experience, Hexblade is definitely a better Gish than the Eldritch Knight (which I played from 1-7+ before swapping to Hexblade). Multi-classing might be useful, but isn't necessary, and personally I'd run straight Hexblade until you find the future abilities are not very exciting, or (like mine) you find your high level spells are making you too much of a Sorcerer and so multi-classing channels the power-ups into your melee capabilities, allowing the real spell casters to have their own place to shine.