Whose talking about pixel peepers, Alan? I was responsible for a sizable chunk of a very successful business, and grew it at a rapid pace even in the recession years when all our competitors were starving. I know who spends real money, and who doesn't. In my field, I sold the very best stuff. Period. But well-informed technical information as well as personal networking was key to that. It is also that same network that got me into a few high-end gallery venues quite early. If i didn't have a least a good background truly understanding color and certain pigments and formulations, I wouldn't have caught the attention of serious painters with strong gallery links. But when it came to equipment sales, I didn't have time for "tire kickers" either.
If I came across insulting, Drew, I apologize. That wasn't my intention.
The point I was trying to make is that business issues for a pro tend to occupy 90% of the problems with being successful. Getting paid, cash flow, finding good employees, making payroll, finding and keeping customers, paying employee withholding taxes on time, negotiating contracts, dealing with Covid, etc. Sure, you need good equipment and materials and select the best you can afford. You may use your better methods to sell your product. And certainly, you have to keep up with progress in your field. It's just that the incessant arguing about "pixels" or grain we see in forums like this, just does not rise to the same level of importance for people in the business trying to sell photos.
I bet the biggest problems you had were the aforementioned business issues I mentioned. They were for me in the fire alarm service business I was in for twenty years. When I started, I worried I would be faced with a situation where I couldn't fix a fire alarm equipment problem. That never happened. What happened were all the business problems I had to deal with that I never thought of when I started. That's what occupied all my time. It's why I suggest that people getting into the photo business should take sales, marketing, and business courses. That's the part that will make or break their business. The photos will take care of themselves.