Honestly, I’ve tried the “let’s keep the walls pretty” approach, but it always seems to end with me covered in dust anyway. Last time I had to run a new wire for a baseboard heater, I thought I’d be clever and use the old wire to pull the new one through. Of course, halfway through, it snagged on something—probably a staple from 1972—and I ended up with both wires stuck in the wall. Cue the drywall saw.
If you’re patching small holes, it’s not that bad. A little mesh tape, some mud, and you’re golden after a couple of coats. Way better than staring at those plastic channels forever. I get why people try to avoid cutting, but sometimes you just gotta accept that a bit of patching is part of the job. At least you get to learn some drywall skills along the way... silver lining?