[brewtide]

As a housepainter, this is probably the best reasoning and where my mind immediately jumped to. The prep work in painting is as you said the majority of the work -- many many many hours spent first slowly destroying something further, then bringing a surface back to the state where, finally, you get to make it all one solid color of protection, once again.

Generally the largest difference in a homeowner painted themselves vs a professional painter -- the amount of prep work required can be astronomical and absolutely mind numbing but without it, one will never end up with the final very nice and long(er) lasting result.

Once again, you get back what you put in!