Building the mouse Logitech won't make

"Balking at the $50+ charge for turnkey assembly, I opted to take the financially responsible route and pay $200+ for a hot-air rework station to solder it myself."

Yeah, I feel this :)

Alternative way to see it: The author had either a $50 solution, or a $50 solution that comes with a discounted hotair rework station for $150…

I learned it from Superfastmatt. He needed a piece of plastic that retails for $1500 for his van, so he said: “either I have a $1500 solution or I have a $1500 solution but I get a free fancy 3D printer in the end…” that stuck with me.

I've come full circle several times.

I have a brake bleeder, an oil change jugs with a cap on top and the side, cellphone tool kits, and more...

Sometimes it takes a while to derive the tenets of labor specialization from first principles.

How many of us can make more making nets for fishermen than making nets AND fishing yourself?

Sometimes I wonder this and then look up how much it costs to get some job done and realize I'm probably still coming out substantially ahead.