300 dpi proofs changed the game for me too. It's like how bars stopped using those flimsy paper straws because people just chewed through them, ended up causing more mess than they solved. Same logic applies everywhere now, companies overprotecting stuff just makes people find dumber workarounds. Low res is so much cleaner and clients actually take it seriously.

Hold up, $800 for 30 hours? That’s barely $27 an hour man.

ain't that the truth

Yeah, the rotted wood thing is actually pretty common with railroad ties left outside. They're treated on the outside but the inner core can still decay if moisture gets in from the top or ends. A lot of people don't realize that even creosote-soaked ties eventually break down under that kind of focused impact load.

I kept an old card open for the same reason but honestly the bump was more like 10 points and not really worth the annual fee I was paying.