Stop overthinking this and just screw the lids back on like everyone else does.

Oh I feel you on the bitter cumin thing, that's a real pain. The trick is to use a dry pan on medium low heat, not high. You want it warm enough to smell it but not so hot that it smokes. I learned that the hard way after ruining a batch of coriander. Also, whole seeds toast way better than ground stuff, they can take the heat. For pre-mixed chili powder with oregano and garlic already in it, I actually agree with you, leave that stuff for blooming in oil later. But if you got whole cumin seeds or coriander seeds, toast them gently till they smell nutty, then grind them fresh. That's where the magic is, not burning the pre-ground blends.

Yeah I read somewhere that battery tech is getting better but it's still not there for the heavy stuff... my cousin has a battery trimmer and he says the same thing about the power dropping off. I think people forget that gas engines actually get stronger when they're under a load, like when you're in thick weeds. Battery ones just kind of give up and slow down, which is exactly when you need the torque the most. It's funny how the quiet doesn't matter if you have to keep stopping to charge or swap batteries...

Yeah that moisture creeping up from the bottom is the real killer, I never thought about lifting the stump to check underneath like that. Do you find the rot is worse if the stump sits on concrete vs dirt?

Cross grain"? Is that a real term or did you just make that up?