Sounds like a pretty standard internet purchase to me.

Are you sure you didn't just get lucky? My experience with that stuff is the exact opposite. I bought a similar no-name bag once and the zipper blew out in a week. That "same factory" line is a total sales pitch they all use. You're basically gambling and just happened to win this time. Spending a bit more on a known brand gives you a real warranty and proven materials, not just hope it holds up. That bag is a time bomb and your tools are gonna be in the dirt one day.

Yeah, I read something once that stuck with me. It said the smartest people ask the most basic questions because they care more about being right than looking right. Totally agree with what bens81 said about someone finally speaking up. Happens all the time. You sit there staring at your screen feeling dumb, then someone posts the exact thing you were thinking and it's like a weight lifts. Hitting a big post count just proves you've been in the trenches long enough to see that pattern over and over.

Yeah, it's a total myth, I'm convinced. My own "Andromeda Galaxy" shot was just a weird glow that looked more like a streetlight. I feel you, @valw36, my Jupiter was a wobbly mess too, even with one of those fancy phone holder clamps. The problem is the phone camera just can't collect enough light, no matter how still you get it.

Remember my buddy who swore by C++ and landed a killer role at a trading firm. The whole "right" language thing misses the point. It's more about learning how to solve problems with code, and that skill transfers. Your cousin's story just proves there are many paths into the industry. Getting hung up on one language as the only door in is a trap.