You bought a D3 and were able to rationalize it to SHMBO? I do believe I have a new hero...but back to the point...so much of our stuff now is meant to be replaced rather than repaired and the techs are trained accordingly...that's all they know. I've found that to be true on autos, appliances and a host of other things.
I hear that both of my shoulders have bad rotor cuffs and boy does that suck. I have always done almost everything and can't think how much we have saved over the years, but nature is closing in on what I can do. So we have to deal with Idiots.
When I built here my inspector (who I learned to like, respect and appreciate...shoot sometimes he would sit out on the porch and drink a beer while we talked over things) paid very close attention to the important things...yeah we ran into a lot of "medium" things where we agreed it was stupid but it was code and had to be done...the "little stuff"...at the end he said he thought I knew what I was doing and signed off so we could get the occupancy permit. Our township could not justify it's own inspector (many properties would probably be condemned) so they hired out to an engineering firm.
Your knowledge is not wasted...in my case for years I have supported a wife and kids that will do the work while I "advise". My wife is probably the best contractor I have ever known but I was smart...she found a house plan she wanted so I have always been able to say it is her house! Recently her 86 yo mother bought a house not far from here that needed a lot of work...I did a lot there (plumbing, flooring, electrical, doors, trim etc.) but when I get the "list" now I merely tell my wife that she and her mother bought a house that I would not have...problem solved...
