Yeah, that "awful stuff" is probably my retirement plan too, I mean idk.

That "just say it's my planner and smile" move is something I see all the time. People feel the need to make their own systems seem smaller or less serious, like calling a fancy notebook just a planner or a detailed spreadsheet just a list. It's like we're apologizing for trying to be organized or for caring about our own stuff. I've caught myself doing it with other things too, not just planning tools.

Actually, that setup works fine most of the time if you place the sensors right. The problem is usually pointing them right at the moving blades. Just aim the sensor down a wall or into a corner away from the fan's sweep. Have you tried adjusting the placement before switching to a different sensor type?