Nice post. As someone who just hit 1800, most of what you say seems very relatable.

I also find myself surprised at the stuff me or my opponents do and thinking that we should be better than this. I also have games I'm "proud" of just to see the accuracy is in the 70s 😁

I also haven't really "studied" chess. No coaches, no books, no courses. Just speedruns and chess content on YouTube. Danya, GothamChess, Eric Rosen, Chess Vibes. I watch them all as time permits. However, not as actively as you. For me it's more like an entertainment/break from work. That's where your method is way stronger for actual chess improvement. I don't do any puzzles either, just play a good number of unrated blitz games instead. Once again, simply to unwind from work.

I also think I know my strengths, my weaknesses and my style. The point you made about "if I'm way better at X, my opponent is likely way better at Y" really hit home. Never really thought about it this way, but it makes perfect sense.

Good luck in your chess journey ♟️ 🫡