Sometimes watching the mempool feels like taking a number at a bubble tea shop: placing an order doesn’t mean it’s made right away—you take a number and just hang around in the queue. When the network is congested, miners/packagers obviously prioritize the ones who pay higher “tips”; if you pay less, you keep waiting, and you might even end up timing out and getting rejected. The fees may not actually save you much either. In any case, your mindset gets worn down first… So when I run into congestion now, I either add a little extra tip to buy certainty, or I just cancel the order and wait—don’t force a fight.

Recently, during airdrop season, everyone’s doing points and anti-Sybil measures, like clocking in and grinding tasks as if it were work. The chain itself is also competitive about “queue eligibility.” Put simply, decide whether it’s urgent and whether it’s worth it before clicking confirm—otherwise you’re just paying money to buy anxiety.