Wait, something nobody's saying is how pre-cut stuff helps people with physical limits. My mom has bad arthritis and can't chop onions anymore without her hands cramping up. For her, it's not about saving five minutes, it's about still being able to cook at all. That extra cost is what lets her keep making real food instead of just ordering takeout every night. It's easy to judge until you realize it's not always about being busy... sometimes it's about being able. Makes you see those packages a bit differently.

Totally. They know which cuts have the best marbling that you can't even see wrapped up. Ask them what's been dry-aging the perfect amount of time, not just what's in the case. I've had them steer me away from an expensive cut to a cheaper one that was just way better that week for what I wanted. That inside knowledge on how to cook what you're actually buying is the whole point. It turns a random piece of meat into a meal you can trust to taste way better.

Spend way too much time chasing deals myself, it’s basically my weird sport at this point.