My buddy got called out like that too, said the insult lived in his head for weeks.

Kinda funny how someone else can point out our blind spots.

That zipper ripping at 2am in a downpour is a nightmare, I've been there with my own tent years ago. I used to think patching things up was always the smarter move, but that night changed my mind for sure. I spent like an hour trying to fix a broken slider once and it just kept slipping back off the track, so frustrating. If the teeth are still good and it's just the slider, you might get lucky with a cheap replacement part. But honestly, after a full night of fighting wet fabric, I'd rather buy a new tent than gamble on another rainy night surprise. Duct tape works for a trip or two, but that boot trick is not a long term plan, trust me.