Man, my buddy went through the exact same thing with his son and a Scratch game, kid wanted to just drag blocks from a tutorial and call it done. He made him rebuild one tiny part solo and the kid sat there stuck for 20 minutes, then lit up when it finally worked.

Did you check if your gauge has a little nut on the back you can turn to adjust it? I popped mine off and twisted the dial to match a probe at 250, and its been close enough since.

My uncle used to drive 45 minutes just for the chili dogs at a place in his old mall, and he swore the drive was part of the whole thing. There is something about a spot you have been going to for years that makes the trip worth it even if the mall is empty. @fiona_hunt71 maybe your buddy is not really chasing the corn dog, he is chasing the memory of how that place used to feel. I would probably do the same thing if my old spot was still open.