Had the exact same thing happen with a cheap jobsite saw a few years back. I kept chasing the problem with shims and filler and I bet I burned through a whole tube of caulk hiding corners that should have been tight. What finally got me was cutting a test piece, flipping it, and butting the two ends together against a straight edge. If you see light through the joint, your angle is off, plain and simple. That trick saved me from trusting the marks on the saw ever again. A stop block and a square check before every job is worth more than any fancy detent system out there.

Man, I used to roll my eyes at people paying for coworking spaces when you could just post up at a library or coffee shop for free. But then I actually tried a day pass while I was traveling and it flipped my whole view. The wifi alone saved me, because hotel internet kept dropping on every call I took. Having a real desk, quiet room, and a door that closes does something to your brain that a loud cafe just can't. I got more done in four hours there than I usually do in two full days at home. So yeah, I get why that $250 came back to you. Some things are worth paying for even when a "free" option exists.