That's a solid point about them being hearty. Soggy fries really are like a flavor sponge for all the vinegar and gravy.

Really miss that human side of work sometimes.

Totally get that, it's way more interesting when it's not perfect. I was watching one last night where the cutter jumped and left this weird little ridge, made the whole thing better. The flawless ones almost feel fake after a while.

What would it take to reignite that kind of collective ambition?

Damn, I always saw those as happy accidents. Now I'm nostalgic for when life wasn't so scripted.