Should common pitfalls that changed my mind [v5]

Quick context: I am relatively new to this and trying to find my footing. Looking for honest feedback, not validation. Posting this here because the relevant subreddit has gotten too noisy lately.

I tried three different approaches and none of them felt quite right. I want to write something more comprehensive about this later but starting with a quick post to gather thoughts. I want to write something more comprehensive about this later but starting with a quick post to gather thoughts.