You said it filled up like a tiny aquarium at 15 feet. That's a pretty specific failure depth. Were you moving around a lot down there, or was it just sitting still when it flooded? I wonder if the pressure from even a basic swimming motion is enough to pop a cheap seal.

Honestly, just plan on replacing the valves from the start. Those old ones are never worth the fight, and new quarter-turn valves are cheap insurance. Saves you a whole lot of cussing and extra trips later.

Totally get it. I carved a nice little groove right into my own fence post before I figured it out. That sound of wood splintering under the spray is just the worst feeling. You think you're cleaning and then suddenly you're doing major damage. It's crazy how much power those things have when you get too close. I treat mine with a lot more respect now too.

Check the sender's actual email address, not just the display name. The "from" field is almost always messed up on a good fake. That quick glance saves you the deep dive.

Honestly feels like you might be overthinking it. An eighth of an inch seems like nothing, and most people would never even notice. I mean, cabinets are for storing stuff, not for being perfect art pieces. Maybe it's just me, but I'd probably have left it after the first hinge adjustment and called it good enough. Sometimes the quest for perfect just makes a simple job way harder than it needs to be.