Hate to say it but that's just how people are these days, nobody treats borrowed stuff like it's their own. Takes one careless friend to mess up a tool you've had for years and they never even fess up to it. Funny how we learn more about people from what they break than what they say.

That's the fastest way to kill any hobby, honestly. Once you add pressure, deadlines, and the need to perform, the fun just drains out of it. Your buddy probably started seeing games as work instead of an escape. There is no way to flip that switch back either. It's sad, but it happens all the time when people monetize their passion.

That "forgotten lawn ornament" comment hit home because I used to think any spray paint would fix it, but after watching my neighbor's chairs turn into a peeling disaster I just let mine be gray now.

Oh wow @alex307, you actually just changed my whole view on this! I was totally team digital because I loved the precise temp control, but last week my probe battery died at 3am during a brisket and I had to scramble for my old analog thermometer. Now I get why people trust the simple stuff for all-night smokes lol

Eggshells work great as a barrier, but they have to be crushed really fine. Big chunks still let slugs crawl right over them. Your grandma knew what she was doing with that thick ring of sharp bits.