Even Bob Arno seems pretty touchy-feely. Harder for an introvert?

Well I don't think it has to be touchy-feely at all
but you must have close contact all the time so for an introvert it may be a little harder

I think more so you need to be comfortable touching other people whokebe. If you look don't look comfortable touching someone, people will see it on your face and then they will come uncomfortable.

jay.

That's why when I'm going to do a watch steal I begin by doing a few coin effects in the woman's hand (I always use a woman) and I hold her hands and touch her elbow at one point.

This is an interessant topic.
I think with time and experiences you don't to much/at all touch the spectator.
It's matter of impact.
ok, thi is a BIG example :
I saw lot of magicians make watch steal with the "yoyo" technic ( or shoulder how are you doing...) or the reverse arm almost broken watch steal( you turn the spectator arm and you make a thumb watch steal and in the ame time you push the other hand to attract the spectator attention...
Yes, it works ! but it's not pickpocket it' buldozer magician steal.
The personn knows when you have take his watch.
I take here the watch steal but it's the same for all steal.
Less you touch the spectator better is the impact.
What !?, by the hell he never touch me !
As pickpocket( I don't talk to magicians here) we work on the spectators imaginary.
Pickpocket films,books are in our patrimony,cultural mankind
It means people expect a lot from pickpocket.
If we're at the same level their imaginary, we'll stay in their mind forever.

Anyway it's just my thought and my way to do pickpocket

Besides it's the same for use of magic in my set, I don't do sponge ball...