There’s a weird moment in every 3D printing hobbyist’s journey where the printer stops being the problem, and the shopping cart takes over. You start with a machine, a spool of filament, and a few basic goals. Suddenly, you’re being told you need a hardened nozzle, a premium build plate, a specialty dryer, vibration feet, carbon rods, exotic filament, and a drawer full of upgrades before your prints can be “good.” Some of that advice comes from people who are genuinely trying to help. Some of it comes from people who seem to enjoy buying printer parts more than printing.