Honestly, the speed of that reaction is what gets me. A three foot move and it's already throwing out a crispy shrimp leaf, that's like the plant gave up overnight. I've had monsteras for years and they usually take a week or two to even notice a change, but radiator heat is just brutal, it dries everything out way faster than you'd think. I'd give it a few weeks and see if the new growth after this one comes in normal, if it does, you're probably fine. That damaged leaf might never flatten out, but I'd leave it for now, the plant can still use it for energy even if it looks rough.

Honestly, sounds like you got unlucky more than anything. Aluminum poles fatigue over time, sure, but 25 trips over 3 years isn't exactly heavy abuse. A freak gust at the right angle can snap any pole, even a brand new expensive one. You're overthinking this. DAC poles are nicer, but they're not magic. That tent in the $250 range probably has the same basic alloy as your old one, just shaped differently. If it was me, I'd just grab a replacement pole set from the manufacturer for like 40 bucks and call it a day. Cheaper than a whole new tent, and you already know the fabric and floor are still good.

My buddy dropped $300 on a deluxe edition and the "bonus" was a lanyard that fell apart in a week. He still brings it up every time we talk about buying merch.

The whole "I finally realized" part hits home. It feels like every project has that one hidden step you miss, and then once you see it you can't believe you ever skipped it. That pattern is everywhere, not just in drywall. Your truck makes a weird noise for a month, then you find out it's a loose bolt you coulda fixed in ten minutes. Or your phone battery drains all day and it turns out one app is running wild in the background. It's like life rewards you for slowing down and actually paying attention to the little stuff, but nobody has time for that until the big headache shows up. The corner bead thing though, I get the schedule pressure, but honestly the extra wet time probably saved you from doing it twice, and that's the real math nobody talks about until they're redoing a job at 9pm.

Exactly @alexc93, coarse grounds and a long wait, that's the whole secret. Messed up my first batch the same way.