I hear you on the hokey-ness. That was why I was rooting for the appearance of Blue Spirit!Zuko helping Aang's group, to be the first introduction of Zuko assisting them. Hmm...I suppose it's still not out of the realm of possibility. But since he's already made himself known to the group now, and he knows they wouldn't hurt him, there's really no reason for him to conceal his identity around them now.

..Or maybe he doesn't know that? He did refuse their attempt to assist Iroh at the end, after all...eeek, overanalysis ahoy. ^^;;;;