Disagree about the broken umbrella, that's a whole mood right there. Sometimes the boring stuff is just a door to something else if you stare at it long enough.

I've seen guys at Joshua Tree use just six basic stakes for a big rainfly in 40 mph gusts. They spent twenty minutes finding the perfect rock placements and hammering them in at sharp angles. Sometimes the best gear upgrade is just more patience with what you already have.

Was it really a time sink though? You got it done and now your house is better for years. Some projects just take the time they take.