> To me, each column represents a different dimension of the basis vector space, so the notion that X, Y, and Z might form independent "column spaces" of their own is unintuitive at best.

I can't help but feel a treatment of linear algebra that assumes all matrices are invertible by default isn't a very good treatment at all. Column spaces are exactly how you harness your (very useful!) intuition that the columns of a matrix are where the basis goes. I agree that it should be defined before use, but it is- in the textbook proper. The preface is for the author to express themselves!

Now row spaces are an abomination, but that's because I'm not really a computation guy. I'm sure they're great if you get to know them.