Ten years to figure out your master was right about the spindle speed? That is some serious dedication to doing things the hard way. What was the plan, wait until year fifteen for him to be right about feed rates too? Pretty sure a guy with a busted part and a bin full of scrap could have told you the same thing on day one. At least now you know the old man wasn't just talking to hear himself.

That "paper thin" clear over the filler is exactly why I always hit those spots with a gauge before touching a polisher. Those quick kits leave way less material than people think, so one light pass can burn right through.

Oh man, the 5am hotel room bag fight is so real, I have totally been there sitting on a suitcase in some random city praying the zipper holds. I feel you on the dead gaps too, rolling always looked so neat and tidy but then the sides of my bag were just wasted space. I switched to flat folding a couple years ago and never went back, and honestly the sliding stacks bugged me at first but now I just tuck a belt or socks down the edges to fill the gaps. For a longer trip you might need to do a mix, like flat fold the shirts and pants but roll the undies and socks to stuff in the corners. Ten minutes with no wrestling sounds like a win to me, enjoy it.