Totally get that. Had a survey file last month with so many crossed lines it looked like a plate of spaghetti. Spent hours trying to clean it up before just putting it on a locked layer and redrawing the lot. Like @claire_lewis said, it happens more than you'd think. Sometimes the old stuff is just too far gone to fix properly. A fresh trace feels like cheating but it's the only thing that works.

Ever try adding a little bit of dirt from the site? I've had good luck sifting some local soil right into the mix. It really helps blend the repair with the old ground in color.

The Wright brothers flew in 1903.

Ever notice if that kind of instinct works across trades... or just in specific fields? Like can a carpenter smell bad wood the same way?

My cousin tried a wash coat with shellac on pine and it dried too fast. Had to sand it back and use a different sealer. Honestly, the type of wash coat matters more than people think.