OK Here's the point.......You have 35 years doing it wrong.......works for you.You are just lucky!
BUT don't tell somewone with NO experiance that it's OK cause.... it's not!
Plastigauge is JUNK..........so is Bonamme in the carb to make the rings seal and draggin the car/truck in gear to get the motor unstuck ect,ect,ect

There is nothing FANCY about having the right tools for the job.
Do you do everything with a hammer and vice-grips?
I bet you care enough to have a FANCY torque wrench
I bet you may have a FANCY Mic........What do you do when someone tries to close
your 0-1 mic.?

Yes I have some real expensive real fancy tools in a wooden tool box you have to step up to look in the top of.........But basic tools are nessary telling someone to start with less just isn't right.....sorry