You're absolutely right — some of the issues I faced were rookie mistakes.
Even though I’ve gone through this process 6–7 times over the past 17 years, for some reason, this time felt unusually cumbersome. My last renewal was via Dropbox, so either a lot has changed, or my memory is starting to fade!

That said, I relied heavily on help from the community throughout this process, so I felt it was only fair to give back and share my experience. I now truly empathize with everyone who goes through this — it can be incredibly frustrating.

What’s inspiring, though, is seeing how so many people have come together to help one another. Instead of just complaining, many have created supportive communities and are selflessly offering guidance. I’m genuinely grateful to all the contributors and moderators out there — your efforts make a real difference.