Preheating is key unless you want burnt pads lol.

Actually, I just use mild soap and water now.

Yeah, this DIY culture has people skipping the basic safety checks all the time. It's not just saving money, it's betting your house on a youtube video.

Is it actually worse now, or have the bad arguments just become more obvious?

That exact scenario ended a neighbor's marriage last summer, no joke. He messed up one step on the deck, which ruined the whole frame and flooded their basement. The fight over the repair bill basically became the final straw.