Dude, why would anyone soak a cast iron pan overnight? That's just basic kitchen survival. I'm with you, I had a roommate who used my carbon steel wok to boil pasta and then scrubbed it with steel wool. The rust spots are still there. I've learned my lesson too - my good stuff stays in my closet under a pile of towels now. Some people just don't get that certain pans need special care. I feel your pain with that Lodge.

Ngl, that's not really a 'hidden' breaker move though. It's actually in the rulebook under momentary interruptions of play. The trick is timing it right so the other guy doesn't see it coming, but calling it hidden is a stretch. Most decent players spot it if you telegraph it with your body language. Honestly, a real pro move is using the same setup but making it look like you're just adjusting your grip. That's where the subtlety comes in, not in the breaker itself but in the setup. Tbh, anyone who's played more than a couple seasons knows the basic hidden breaker is just standard stuff now.

Wait, you seriously just changed my mind about those apps, I was totally against them before.

The price on that swap sounds a bit high for an '04 Civic. You can usually find a decent used engine for around 400 bucks, and labor should run you maybe 800-1000 on top of that. Still might be more than the car's worth to a college kid, but 3,500 sounds like dealer pricing with a brand new motor, which is overkill for a car that old. Being honest with the customer is always the right call though, even if it costs you a job. The shop gets more respect in the long run that way, and that kid will remember it.

The $12 Harbor Freight one I got last year lasted me like 6 months before the tip fell off, and I used it almost every weekend for random stuff. You probably just got a bad one or left it on too long without cleaning it. Did you try the little sponge thing they sell for like a buck?