Did you check if the curtain material is sticking to itself? I mean, I had that happen on my Leica and a light rub with isopropyl alcohol on a q-tip helped, since sometimes the old lubricant gets gummy and causes lag. Idk, it might be worth a shot before taking apart the gears.

Keeping it under the table like @wyattp45 said is key, it stops you from looking down at it too obviously. It helps you avoid eye contact when things get awkward too. Makes the whole thing way less stressful.

That collet slip might not be as common as you think.

Are the new water-based finishes really as safe as they claim? I heard on a podcast that some still have hidden chemicals (even if the smell is gone). It made me wonder if we're just trading one problem for another, you know? But seeing folks switch over like you guys did seems promising. I might give that General Finishes stuff a try if it holds up well. Honestly, not dealing with headaches sounds worth the switch alone.