Flip that logic around though - that $47 might be a free pass from future-you to past-you. You found a little gift your past self left behind, so just enjoy the win and stop overthinking it.

Man that drum sound hit home. My first one rang like a church bell on every strike.

135 degrees is actually my sweet spot for 1080 steel, I tested it with a thermometer last year. The problem with cold oil is you get that uneven cooling where the edge zips past the nose and the spine is still hot, that mismatch is what cracks blades. Preheating slows the quench just enough to let the whole blade transform at the same rate, especially on thicker stock like quarter inch. Plus warm oil flows a lot better so you don't get those vapor jackets that cause soft spots. I stopped guessing after I ruined a six hour damascus billet, never again.

That "bag of rocks" sound was my signal to finally junk my old fridge too.

Oh man, heated floors are a game changer even in a tiny space. I'd definitely go for the warmth over a fancy vanity.