The whole "pull it tighter" thing while you're already on the kicker is just a guy who watched one YouTube video and thinks he knows the gig. But standing over you the entire time? That's not a crime, it's just annoying. I've had customers hover worse than that and I still got paid and went home. Half the trade would starve if we walked off every job where somebody breathed down our neck.

Sounds like you traded two whales for a pod of dolphins and somehow ended up with more fish. That's either a genius pricing move or you just got really lucky with timing. Losing your two biggest clients and coming out ahead sounds fake, but I've seen it happen. Had a guy I know do the same thing with his shop, dumped his two worst clients who ate up all his time and suddenly had room for five better ones. The math works until it doesn't though. Guess you'll find out if it's a real plan when those six start asking for discounts too.