My contractor buddy says overbuilding can actually make things feel worse.

Oh man, that's the worst feeling! It's like the wood just disappears under your fingers. Something I never see mentioned is how the lighting in your room can totally trick you. You think you're being gentle in that dim corner, but then you step back into the sunlight and see a huge shiny spot where the finish is gone. Makes you want to just throw a tablecloth over the whole thing and forget it ever happened.

That first perfect seam feels like a magic trick.

That line about "the act of looking helped him remember the person better" really got me. I read something similar about how the physical motion of writing ties memories to the page. Do you find your notebook helps you recall little details you'd forget otherwise?

People get weirdly attached to old styles. It's just hair, it grows back. The client probably wanted a fun change and found a picture they liked.