The "watching people back out" part is so real, I do the same thing and it's wild how many folks just go for it. I've noticed it's not just parking either, it's like people stopped looking up from their own little bubble in a lot of places. Planning your spot before you park is just being smart, not weird.

The "grease makes the whole load trash" thing is real but people act like one pizza box ruins everything, and that's just not how it works in practice. A little grease on one box out of a full bin is not going to get your whole load dumped, and most of the time the haulers don't even look that close. Tearing the greasy lid off and tossing just that part is plenty, no need to send the whole thing to compost and feel bad about it.

Been doing the exact same thing for about two years now and yeah, you're not fooling yourself. When you rinse the filter under the tap, it soaks up water and kind of seals itself flat against the basket. A dry filter lets the coffee pass through a touch slower at first, and that extra contact time pulls out more of the oils and fines. My cups went from tasting kinda thin and papery to rounder, almost like a French press but cleaner. Try it with a darker roast if you really want to taste the difference. Only downside is the filter can shift a bit if you're not careful when you screw the cap on.