Nine hours on a syntax error is brutal but here is the part that gets me. Python does not even use semicolons like that. They are legal but pointless, and a stray one would not cause a syntax error unless you stuffed it somewhere weird. So either this story is fake, or the real bug was something else and Dave just got lucky. I say that because I have chased the wrong fix for hours and sworn the thing I changed was the answer. Once you decide it was the semicolon, your brain stops looking for anything else. Next time save yourself the day and diff the production file against your test copy right away.

Stop watching, start breaking stuff yourself.

I used to roll my eyes at guys who bought every single-purpose tool, figured a paperclip and some patience was good enough. After watching a buddy pull 30 pins in 15 minutes with a $15 set, I went out and bought one the same day.