[incogitomode]

I'll take a contrarian position here. You paid for professional services that you could afford, you got them, and they made you more money. It's the definition of a good investment and a successful project.

Will also add that based on the happy conclusion of your story the title is almost clickbait — and highly effective clickbait at that, since you've now gotten 1000s of targeted HN eyeballs. I can't imagine how much that would have cost you!

[epolanski]

That only worked because op had another 39k to throw at the problem.

Imagine if he did not, and he ended with no redesign and no money and needing to find a lawyer..