Man, I feel this in my bones. It's so frustrating to see that stuff fall apart after all the work that goes into it. Trying to talk clients into better materials is the worst part of the job sometimes, but showing them pictures of rotten decks usually helps. You're totally right to stick to your guns on it.

Remember reading an old cooking blog last week that called it a "gravy-soaked crust" tradition from British pub pies. That writer would totally agree with river_hernandez45 about texture being the main point. A crisp bottom on a fruit pie can sometimes fight against the filling. A little give in the crust soaks up the juices, especially in a cherry or peach pie. It turns the whole thing into one soft, warm bite instead of two separate parts.

I've had similar savings using trains instead of shuttles.

Isn't it funny how we start picking apart fictional families when our own lives get complicated? I've noticed people dissecting TV relationships way more since the pandemic made us all hyper aware of home dynamics. Guess we're all just trying to make sense of our real bonds through these cartoon mirrors.

Seriously, why do people treat this like some big project? It's supposed to be a fun way to get organized, not a second job making charts for every little thing. In the end it's just a notebook you're gonna fill with scribbles anyway.