I have a pretty deep, maybe paranoid need to be confident I have an intrinsic understanding, and I have found in my life that lessons come to you when you make yourself open to learning.

So I need to build on top of what I know, taking as much of the hard way as I can bear to take at any one time — it has to be not quite difficult enough to put me off.

I can't really explain what I have learned this way that is different, but I feel it in a way that I wouldn't if I'd simply pushed a button.

For the same reason, I have a really basic 3D printer that I've set up myself, set up Klipper, configured how I want it, learned how to calibrate, all that. And now I can say that I feel I have an understanding of 3D printing. I could hold my head above water in a discussion with a real expert, maybe find work in an adjacent field where my insights would keep me grounded.

I can afford a really good printer that has all that set up, and more, has no problems. But I'd just be someone who has a 3D printer.

(Also who am I kidding about the existence of a printer with no problems)