Excellent job — Yes, in the case of a tentacle for an octopus that would be an easier way. I’m looking to procedurally model and animate a complex creature that also has tentacles growing out of tentacles sort of like an L system tree. This solution you have is getting close. Can you post the blend file? Perhaps I and others can add to it.
Making this functionality work would bring a critical extrude method found in other softwares to Blender. It’s worth making it better!
Best,