But is a kid thinking you lay eggs really that hilarious?

Actually, I read a study from a building science group that said back-blocking isn't always needed. They checked a bunch of houses and found ceilings stayed flat if the joists were spaced correctly. Like @gavinbaker said, good framing is key. It saves time and money on smaller jobs.

Which game was it?

Wow, I heard a podcast that called this the "latte factor" but for everything now. It said those tiny buys are like silent budget killers because they feel too small to matter. Your wake-up call is exactly what they described, where you only see the damage later. Tracking every single thing feels annoying but it's the only way to shut that leak.

My old Jeep’s lug nuts taught me the same patience, lol.