That "just dumb luck" line is where you're off base, because if it was luck it wouldn't hold up over 120 cuts on the same machine with the same steel. Lube on the tip cuts down spatter sticking and keeps the arc from chewing up the electrode, so you get way more life out of a set. Maybe grab a $6 can of tip gel and test it yourself before calling it a fluke.

That sign in Amarillo says way more about them than about the people walking away. I've been on both sides of tables like that and here's the deal: a gap is only a problem if you let the interview end without an answer. Before the fair, write down what you did during the gap, even if it was taking care of a sick parent, driving for a rideshare company, or just looking for work in a tough market. Then practice saying it in one calm sentence and move straight into what you can do for them. Most of the time the person behind the table is just reading a rule their boss handed them, so give them something to write on their form that makes you look fine. The folks who walked away that day did the smart thing, because a table with that sign is already telling you how they treat people.