So you were basically paying for a fake score the whole time?

Didn't I read somewhere that tamping too hard actually hurts extraction?

Isn't it funny how overlooked settings cause most of our headaches?

Used to think spending big on tools was just showing off... honestly thought my old workhorse was fine until I borrowed a buddy's nice power trowel for a day. Totally changed my mind after that. That thing was smooth as butter and I finished a slab in half the time without fighting it the whole way. Bought my own the next week and haven't looked back. Sometimes you just gotta shell out to save yourself the headache later.

Funny how a $30 gamble turns into the best investment on the boat. Guess that makes me a financial genius in my sleep.