being a salesman for Mercedes-Benz, I frequent the parts department and parts/tool supply rom looking for stuff to use on my Volvo 240. I think you are correct in what you say (both counts) but I think we all sometimes miss the point of adventure of inventing or modifying existing stuff to use. Recently, I found some unbeleiveable stuff ( shiny, hard-outside tubing the same inside diameter of our vacuum line AND water lines in the 240 and tok enough home to replace every inch of vacuum line and w/s washer line in the car! I was so excited and felt some sense of accomplishment in doing so. That's fully half the reason I joined the "Brickboard"......to pick up ideas of modifying and ways to do stuff and learn. It has turned out ot be a hobby more than a car.
Anyway......opinions are like bellybuttons...etc.