Yeah, that's a really good point from @evan295. I guess I wasn't thinking about the bigger picture, just my own tired legs on a steep part. When you put it that way, it makes total sense. One person cutting a corner seems fine, but if everyone does it, the trail just falls apart. It's like a slow-motion crowd effect that wrecks the place. I'll stick to the built path from now on, even if it's a bit longer.

That ShieldCoat problem in Springfield sounds exactly like my last job. I had to strip the whole floor and start over.

Honestly, that bucket is a time capsule. Each one of those knives probably has a specific texture or a weird corner it was perfect for, and your hands just remember. I bet you could grab one blindfolded and know exactly which drywall job you bought it for. Makes you wonder what else is hiding in the garage that we've forgotten how to use but can't part with. What's the oldest tool you still reach for sometimes?

That weird temper thing is a real nightmare.

Listen to your boss and save the time.