You said people get stuck on the rules without testing them, but in this case the cold butter rule has a solid reason behind it. The science is that cold butter creates steam pockets as it melts in the oven, which gives you those flaky layers. Room temp butter blends into the flour more, which makes a tender crust but not a flaky one. Sounds like you might just prefer a different texture, which is totally fine, but the cold butter trick isn't one of those myths people blindly follow.

Haha man I feel this in my bones. I found a fansite I made for a PS2 game on a random free host like 15 years later and the midi file was still blasting out some terrible chiptune cover. Guess the server's just been humming along like it's nothing, lol.

Cold hands sound nice but I'd rather wear gloves than cramp up and drop dough on my feet. Maybe the old baker had ice water in his veins.

Snapped two threads on a 1908 Dickens last month. Tradition is great until you're picking thread out of your teeth.

Bought one last summer and it literally paid for itself in three sunny weekends here in Portland. Worth every penny for that sweet sweet vitamin D.