Comment by 9x39

> the config behavior still doesn’t match my mental model

Could you -learn- how to self-host a version of your app to expand your mental model in doing so? You outsourced the thinking part to an LLM - a bag of words - and are surprised the outcome didn't just work?

> Google support hasn’t been able to clarify how to properly scope this either

More outsourcing of thinking, no? Is Plan A really asking the vendor selling you compute how to use less compute and make them less money, instead of figuring out how to use just enough of it yourself?

If you're taking ownership, who could have effected the outcome the most here? Maybe the person who keeps outsourcing thinking to LLMs, support requests, and forums? I'd argue ownership would look more like figuring out how to handle Top Cost #1 yourself and reduce burn rate, starting by doing less outsourcing.