That upgrade is a game changer. Felt the same way about my old mouse before getting a proper drawing tablet.

Nah, that's still a win. You learned how the board actually works. Next time you see that same fault, you'll know in five minutes if it's fixable or junk. The guy with the lazy advice just knows how to swap parts. You gained real skill, even if it cost you a day and thirty bucks.

Lasers didn't kill the artistry, they just moved it. Now the skill is in the design and setup before the laser even fires. Look at custom bike builders who use scans to make perfect frames, but still hand-finish the welds. Or sculptors who digitize models but choose the curves by eye on screen. The eye for shape is now used in software, not just at the bench. Old skills adapt, they don't vanish.

Turns out my city photos were less art and more visual spam. @valw69 is right about chaos, because my old shots just look like I was trying to hide bad framing with crowds. Quiet places force you to actually see the shot, which is way more satisfying.

The gravel path behind the old water tower on Ridge Road gets maybe three cars a day. It leads to a small creek that's too shallow for swimming, so it avoids the family crowds. I found it because the map showed a dead end that isn't really a dead end. You have to walk past the gate, which looks private but isn't. The grass is high and there are no signs, so most people turn around. It's quiet because it's honestly not that exciting, which keeps it safe.