This a role reversal for which I am unqualified, but absolutely happy to be here.
It all makes a ton of sense. I hear you on the pics and totally get it. I hate that’s a barrier, because it’s a very understandable one, but I think dropping them would change the challenge enough that it loses its way.
Now the question of “why push it so hard?” I’ll be the annoying rhetorical that answers a question with a question: does the grind make you happy? If not, I don’t think you should do it. If yes, then you certainly don’t owe not doing it to satisfy a preconceived notion on trips around the sun. You certainly don’t owe anyone looking a certain way; it should just be what makes you happier?
I think either answer is equally valid and neither is perfect. I tend to ask myself which manure I want to shovel, because I’m going to be in one field or another.