Get why you'd be cautious but sometimes the hype is right for the wrong conditions. Hey @nina_butler, this feels like a prep issue more than a brand problem. Those stoves need the right fuel mix and pre warming way more than people realize, my buddy learned that the hard way too. Did your cousin actually use that same stove in deep cold before or was he just going off specs?

Doesn't this mirror what we see in handmade goods versus factory output? I used to buy local pottery, and each piece had its own quirks. Now everything looks machined, same as the next. That difference in old glass gave it character, like a fingerprint.

You said fermentation is rotting vegetables, but that's not exactly true. Rotting is uncontrolled decay from harmful bacteria, while fermentation is a controlled process with good bacteria. Stone crocks worked because they allowed some air flow, but that also meant more risk of mold if the salt balance was off. Modern seals just reduce that risk by creating a better environment for the good bacteria. It's not about gadgets overcomplicating things, it's about using what we know now to avoid losing a batch. How do you handle preventing mold in your own ferments?

You say "debunked" like it's some final thing... but official stories change all the time. That 1995 autopsy film, they said it was fake because of the props... then years later similar props showed up in real military training films. The Air Force story changed from a weather balloon to a spy craft... that's not exactly solid ground to call anything totally fake. Maybe some photos are hoaxes, but tossing out everything feels like giving up too easy.