Wonder how you decide what stays in the kit for good. Like when you cut down to a small set, what's the actual test for a tool to make the cut, do you just go by what broke most often on the job?

Oh man, I've had that exact same conversation!

Wait, the app only asked for color and shine? That's crazy for rock ID. Those two things alone can't tell quartz from a lot of other stuff. You need to check hardness or how it breaks, you know? I tried a few apps last year and got the same junk results. It just guesses based on a photo sometimes. Books force you to actually look at all the details, which is how you learn. Going back to books is the only smart move after that mess.

Remember when my old mechanic would just nod and start working on my car without asking what was wrong. Drove me crazy because he'd fix stuff I didn't need and miss the weird noise I actually came in for. Finally found a guy who sits down with a clipboard and makes you explain every little detail before he even opens the hood. Sounds like a hassle but it saves so much time and money because he actually fixes the right problem the first time. Your story about the haircut chat made me think of that, how skipping the talk at the start usually means more work later. It's weird how a few questions can change the whole job.

Those old LEDs just fade over time.