Tbh, when you said you made the fits super tight without glue, I get it, but glue does more than just hold things together. It seals the wood from water getting in, which is huge for outdoor stuff. Without that, you're just asking for rot or cracks over time.

Honestly that "lasts for ages" thing hits different now. Look at my IKEA desk already wobbling after two years, but some Victorian iron fence is out there winning its 150th winter. Really makes you wonder if we're building anything that'll make future people go "damn, they knew how to make a shelf".