is there an easier way to edge loop select for embossed objects? drag-select edges only seems to grab everything underneath as well.. i really dont wanna select one-by-one anymore.
What you use a selection rectangle thingy, look up at the top you see selection modes. For a PC or MAC? use the tab key until it gets to “edges only” while in the process of selecting.
if you rewatch the video, you see me doing that ;p it doesnt work to select only the top edge loop.. hmmm
Gotta position your perspective jussst righhhht? 
haha, yeah totally… i found a workaround. ill take a quick video
so, you have to go back into the original sketch, drag select all the lines, and then exit the sketch. voila, only the top layer is selected - or at least thats what i needed.
this doesnt solve the main problem at hand which seems to be the lack of edge loop selection? seems like there are other posts of people requesting it for a few years. this workaround wouldnt help someone trying to select the inner bottom edge or something more tricky. anyways, hope this helps someone out in the future 
Yep, that’s what I meant. 
I wish we had a select-thru on/off switch for drag-select so that only visible edges/faces/bodies could be selected. It’s especially painful when trying to modify converted meshes because of all the bloody triangles.
In Shapr workarounds are very handy. 
this is great, thanks!