Wait, is it really that big of a deal to skip the full brush sometimes? I mean, if the camera shows it's clean and you're not leaving creosote behind, what's the problem? It sounds like some people just do things because that's how they were taught, not because it's always needed. Saving an hour on a job without cutting corners seems pretty smart to me.

Honestly, that pack has earned its retirement. A major strap failure on trail is a pretty clear sign it's done. Trying to fix it now is just asking for more trouble later.

Honestly, that's the rabbit hole (and it's a fun one). Next you'll be checking water temperature and fussing over grind size, which actually makes a huge difference. It's a little ridiculous but the coffee is so much better.