My third cup of cayenne says Victor_stone's "feeling it out" method might explain the fire department visiting last week.

Stretching does not stop all injuries for everyone. Good form when lifting and taking breaks helps more. Just do what works for your own body.

Your "you don't know what you're missing" comment really nails it for craft tools. Cheap gear often just gets the job done but with way more struggle and worse results. Switching to proper tools turns a chore into something you might even enjoy.