Mr.
@Rossum commented earlier about what people might be doing differently this time around in comparison to the 2016 stockpiling frenzy. My answer to that query is easily “BUY MORE SQUONKERS.”
I had purchased 5 REOs Mods in the spring of 2015. (PIF one to a very, very dear friend who used it to death.) Lots of REOs replacement parts - enough, I think, to carry through for at least five years, if not more, with good maintenance. Those have always been my vapeocalypse, End-of-Days strategy. Other items were what were en vogue at the time, which means I still have three Reauleauxs in cellophane-sealed boxes and practically unused IPV5s. (This is not to even mention random mods that are probably perfectly usable, but I do not “count” towards stocking up inventory.)
But even then, squonking had not gone mainstream enough to alert my attention to it as a central go-to option, plus, the variety of devices was still relatively niche outside of certain forums and FB groups. As I worked at a vape shop, I was mandated to use what we sold, and therefore most of my purchases reflected that. Anything I bought on the side was still mainly influenced by the more prominent discussions on this board, and even then I managed to spend a good deal of money.
I have always envied the people here who have such deep knowledge of artisan vape products and ability to fix and rebuild them. I am a creative person but quite inept at anything mathematical or of engineering. I have a hard time visualizing things without being very deliberate. So, for instance, if someone describes how to fix a mod, I hear the Charlie Brown adults “waah-waah” speak and I cannot follow.
Now that squonking is affordable, easy, and accessible, it is the obvious choice for ME to stockpile. I can drip all day long if need be, but IMO, for ME, squonking is even easier to maintain than an RTA. Y’all might remember I spoke of using the FireLuke Mesh tank for a solid 1.5 years before I just bought my Topside 90w + Profile, and my Serpent Elevate. The transition from drop-in coil tank to squonking was seamless, whereas I still have to fiddle with the RTA (which is still amazeballs).
Back in 2016 I just didn’t have a crystal ball to foresee the products available for purchase now. And that’s why I’m re-doing my stockpiling now.
::end of monologue::