@Shadrach is helping me out some as is ChunkyBoyser on OPA. I am making some progress bit by bit. If I can get set up with Alby Hub and my own lightning node I think I can bypass the KYC nonsense in perhaps somewhat circuitous ways. The "plumbing" construction analogy is rather apropos. Takes time to build the pipes but once they're built, it sure is convenient. Glad you're enjoying the podcast. It's just like @Ian Carroll said: a good theory answers all of the known facts and a perfect theory leads to new discoveries that only continue to further validate the theory.