Honestly I skip that step sometimes and it's been fine lol. I've put in plenty of mirrors with just a quick dry cloth wipe and they hold up. Guess it depends on the job and what sealant you're using.

But really, what's the big deal if a vase has ears? Like @elliot887 said, it still holds stuff, so who cares if it's weird? My buddy made a bowl that looks like a crashed spaceship, but it holds his keys just fine. Isn't the whole point of handmade stuff that it's not perfect? Why do we get so hung up on things looking store-bought? If it works, it works.

Ignore one thing and it's everywhere, so why bother?

Soaking isn't the only trick for crispy fries. Patting them really dry before air frying can work just as well. Try a quick rinse and dry next time to see if it saves you some effort.

I coded without auto-complete at first, which was tough but taught me the basics. Now I use it, but that early work paid off.