Wait, did your friend really say pour-over is maybe better? That's wild because espresso gives you that thick crema and strong shot pour-over can't copy. If you ever want lattes or cappuccinos, a machine is your only real choice. All that saving up means you get to make cafe style drinks at home any time. Honestly, stick with your espresso plan before you regret it.

Your book club sounds way too intense lol

Prefer licensed mistakes over unlicensed disasters any day.

I've had glue-down in my bathroom for years without any problems. It really depends on how it's put in and how you care for it.

My cousin in Tampa went through that last winter. His garage door opener kept dying and the TV would flicker. The electrician said it was a floating neutral from the street. The power company dragged their feet for a month before fixing it. Stuff like that makes you paranoid about your own wiring.