The gap between knowing something and actually understanding it — AI accelerated my learning curve

I've been experimenting with setting up local LLMs lately, and here's what hit me hard: Just because it's cheap to build something doesn't mean you should. If a compatible tool already exists for your use case, use it first. Only roll your own once you've confirmed the existing option falls short. I knew this before - but knowing something in theory and truly understanding it through experience? Completely different. This is especially important for people who love building things or are early in their careers.