Yeah, that drives me nuts. I had a writing group that got obsessed with cutting every single adverb, even when they were the right word for the mood. It just made everything sound weirdly flat and robotic.

Totally get that. Closing my eyes sometimes helps me focus on the texture and weight of a piece. It cuts out the visual noise.

What did the sales guy say when you tried to get a refund? Those trade show deals are the worst, they vanish after the weekend. I've had good luck with the basic Wahl cordless model for a few years now. It's not fancy but it just works. I'd skip the gimmicks and stick with a brand you see in real shops.