That "stays flexible down to -20F" line hit me. I used to figure sealer was sealer, but a cracked wheel arch in February taught me the hard stuff just can't hang when it's cold.

Did you hear about that guy whose chimney fire melted his neighbor's satellite dish three blocks away?

That's a smart system honestly. Used to think pulling the license plate was enough, figured if they had plates and insurance they must be legit. But after hearing about your cousin's situation, I get why you need to go the extra step. The state board lookup is free and takes less time than arguing with someone about their expired credentials. Makes you wonder how many folks out there are working without anyone checking. Probably more than we'd like to admit.