Nice looking grow. The whole things bizarre to me. The difference between looking at the plants with my eye through a scope, through my phone with a scope, and through my wife’s iPhone , and on my tablet, is just flummoxing. You’re right, in all that you said. Thing is, facts are, as a grower, technology and techniques have evolved. Where I used to eyeball the plant and say it’s done, now comes down to specific conditions of ‘doneness.’ The most trouble I got into was the first year I used a scope, harvested way too early by reading incorrect areas, sugarleafs instead of calyxes.
However, once I learned to use the technology; like using sites and friends to help decide when done. But as time goes on, this all ties into your gut. My antenna twanged when I saw all the amber. My gut said way too many white pistils. 2 days later, red pistils abound. Wish I could afford a digital scope, I am but a humble, frugal grower.