Agree - conventions and standards are excellent. If the banking industry had stuck to them the crash would not have happened.
But I am a self-taught hobbyist who has never worked as a programmer - I wish I had - so I do not have the benefit of other people's experience. And I appreciate how much a novice like me must frustrate the pro's.
Curious about not copying code - why reinvent the wheel? Assuming it is legal of course.

In the meantime I will keep on hack, hack, hacking on Heaven's door - I am sure that is what Dylan meant to sing.

Ta,
Martin