Fine
I think you are on the right way. The first and the third one are correct, and if you select and crop the reflect layer :
menu Layer / Transparency / Transparent gradient / Top to bottom
you can also decrease the text opacity from back to front.
For the second one, the function used does not write on the transparency, so you have to blend the text with a white layer before.
Same way to work with the : menu Filter / Deform / Trapezoid / Perspective.
With menu Layer / Transform / Distort , you don't need to use a blend with a white layer.