That "toddler finger-painted it with mud" line hits a little too close to home. I had a table once that looked so bad, I told people the stain can must have exploded. My first instinct was to just keep adding more stain, which of course made it into a sticky, dark mess. Thinning that first coat is such a simple fix, but you only learn it after creating a few really ugly pieces.

But how is that any worse than phones listening all day? Most toys just use the data to get better at talking to kids, not spy on them. Tbh turning it into a dumb toy feels like missing the point.

Tbh, I'm with you on printed guides.

My final straw was a sketchbook sliding into a creek. corar37's flat rocks trick is genius.

Wait, your whole rent?