No. In Twilight Princess for Gamecube and Wii, Link would learn various sword techniques in certain spots in-game.

This game has a sword tutor as well, but you were able to do the techniques all along. It doesn't unlock them.

You get various attack/puzzle solving items at fixed points in Zelda; they're usually needed to solve the next dungeon, in not-really-intellectually-stimulating ways where you look at the puzzle and immediately know how to apply the item you just got.

Link Between Worlds added a shop where you can rent all the items in the game and solve everything out of order.

I think the intention is to contrast it with the open world WRPG's this new Zelda is taking cues from.

Yes, and I found it strange that the article's statement could be interpreted as implying that it was new for Zelda games, as opposed to a departure from most mainstream RPGs.

In Zelda II you learn the down-thrust and up-thrust techniques as the game progresses; Link does become better at swordplay over time.

That game would have only been improved had down-thrust been available from the beginning.

Well Zelda 2 had experience points, which is unlike any other Zelda game.

Minish Cap has some OP sword tutor moves in it though.