Who might have done better?

[PhantomSac]

Meanwhile it doesn't seem likely that we can get him to bid NT when it's right, given our spade holding.

Bidding 2S would accomplish that, if you don't want to raise diamonds I think that's much better. Admittedly it sounds more like Axx of spades, maybe partner will work out that your hand is antipositional because of your hearts and not your spades though, especially if you get to bid 3D next.

 

I guess we will agree to disagree that partner would bid 3C over 2N, to me he is 5332 at this point and you have just bid NT, I would not expect you to have a stiff ever (maybe with 7 bad clubs and a double spade stop) unless it was in diamonds, and I wouldn't see much point in investigating further with balanced hands (or stiff opp AQJxx) and stoppers everywhere.

 

I don't see why Kxx is such a strange holding, it could also be AJx or something that is much more suitable for suit play. I dont think 2H shows heart length, partner is just showing some value there and he has no other forcing bid. To me it is very natural to support partner with support for his suit and a stiff and very prime/suit oriented hands. If he wants to find out about a spade stopper there is still room to ask.