I used to think saving money on brakes was no big deal. Then I had a scare where my car took longer to stop than it should have. Now I believe it's better to pay a little extra for safety.

Yeah that payback time makes sense if you factor in generator upkeep too. @rileyd43 probably didn't think about oil changes and filter costs piling up on top of the fuel. I mean, once those panels are up you're pretty much just cleaning them sometimes, idk it just seems way less hassle long term.

Yeah, that whole 'walk around and look' thing is weirdly useful. I do the same dumb lap around my car before long drives, kicking tires for no real reason. Once caught a plastic bag wrapped around the axle that was starting to smolder. Not quite a bolt, but it did save me from a truly weird roadside fire. Guess we're all just out here hoping to spot the weird thing before it bites us.

Remember when my friend's dry bricks made his whole chimney lean before the mortar set?