Pudgalavada

[DNS]

But what about Theravada? Are there any similar ideas that Buddha put forth, about very different Dhamma paths for people, accounting for our varied stages of readiness?

Sort of; there are 40 different subjects for samatha meditation, and the meditator chooses based on his temperament. There are also different suggestions based on personality types, for example:

https://dhammawiki.com/index.php?title= ... typography

[Nicholas Weeks]

I recall, but not well enough, some sutta? that mentioned at least 3 or 4 types, devotional, intellectual etc. But just discovered this Abhidhamma text, Puggala-pannatti that is amazingly thorough.

https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/ti ... 1010181403

The heart of humanity is highly complex, so one can see why Buddha taught from so many angles.