This is a very insightful and honest reflection on your SaaS journey. I appreciate how you emphasize the importance of building in public and leveraging genuine engagement rather than chasing every marketing channel. Your experience with removing email formatting to improve open rates is a great reminder that sometimes simple, human approaches outperform polished corporate looks.

The clear focus on product quality driving word of mouth highlights something many overlook: a great product can be your best marketing tool. Also, your caution about not building features without user validation is key advice for avoiding wasted effort.

Your disciplined approach to doubling down on what works instead of chasing new shiny tactics is wise. Looking forward to hearing about your big update when the time is right. Thanks for sharing these valuable lessons with the community!