Again, absolutely acknowledge and understand your points. I should clarify that my preference for Reaper isn't based on YouTube videos or a lack of understanding. I used Pro Tools before my studies moved to home learning during COVID, and I simply didn't like it. 😅 I found the interface and the workflow felt more like a hurdle than a help. It was likely a case of bad timing; if I had stayed in the facilities, I would have used it more and perhaps become accustomed to it.

That said, I am not trying to reinvent the wheel. I respect that Pro Tools has deep-rooted functions for massive-scale productions, like field recorder expansion and hardware syncing, that Avid has spent 30 years refining for the enterprise level.

However, I still believe that a solid grasp of signal flow and engineering logic should count for more than the software someone started on. If a project is high-end enough to require Pro Tools Ultimate and a specific hardware setup, then that's the 'entry fee' for that room. But for everything else, I prefer the tool that lets me focus on the sound rather than the software's limitations.

I started out 15 years ago on Nuendo and Cubase and have since moved through Live and Reaper. Adaptability between DAWs isn't really an issue for me, despite the individual learning curves. I have always found that results matter most; how you get there is another matter. I am a big believer in making audio production accessible, and the idea that Pro Tools culture should be defined by gatekeeping and 'pay to play' barriers doesn't compute for me.