Took me 12 years to figure out the compass in my truck wasn't broken, it just needed to be held level and away from the dashboard. Felt like an idiot standing in a field at sunset spinning it around like a magic trick.

Saw a thread last week where someone in Chicago used those zip tie plant rings and screwed eye hooks into the wall, then ran paracord through them as a trellis. Way sturdier than a standalone cage, and it takes like 20 minutes to set up. Also heard that weighing down the base with sandbags or heavy bricks helps a ton when the wind hits, especially on a balcony where gusts get funneled weird. The coat hanger trick is honestly pretty genius though, props for that. If you wanna keep the cage but make it tougher, wrapping the PVC joints with duct tape or using hose clamps instead of the snap fittings can keep it from folding like a cheap tent. Portland wind is no joke, so maybe also try angling the whole setup against a wall corner for extra support.