Have you ever considered that maybe the goalposts just moved? Sure, ancient stuff is solid, but it served kings and gods. Our stuff serves way more people, even if it needs more upkeep. It's not about what lasts forever, but what works for the living. I'd take a safe, accessible library built today over a pyramid that cost thousands of lives.

Ever think about just letting the pattern break on the turns? On those tight winders, I sometimes cut the carpet so the pattern runs straight up the middle of each tread, and let it fan out on the sides. It looks more natural to the eye when you're walking up than a seam that's fighting the architecture. The break gets hidden in the corner. Saves a ton of time, and most clients never even notice if you don't point it out.

Watched a guy at the trailhead last week tighten his with a big hex key, leaning his whole weight into it. He said he'd never had a seatpost slip that way. Sure, but now his frame is a time bomb. Sometimes the fear of a loose part makes people ignore the actual numbers printed right on the clamp. A torque wrench feels fussy until you hear that expensive crunch.