Honestly sounds like you got unlucky with a bad batch more than anything. I've used the cheap stuff from Lowe's for years and never had issues, half my pothos are thriving in it right now. Maybe check if you're overwatering instead of blaming the soil.

Tried that once but my GPU crashed halfway through.

that's honestly really sweet, man. those old school guys are the best.

Yeah that car loan ended up costing him double what he thought.

Started using a variable speed router way too fast on everything, thinking more RPM meant cleaner cuts. Took burning up a brand new bit on some oak to realize slower speeds actually give you more control and less tearout. It's like that with most tools honestly, people think faster equals better when half the time the real trick is taking your time and letting the tool do the work. Same thing with my lawnmower, used to run it full throttle thinking that was the only way to cut grass until a neighbor told me to slow it down on thick stuff. Sometimes the hard way is the only way you learn these lessons.