This is suuper-helpful! Thanks so much!

I'm going to think about what sound/vibe I want, look at the guitars my favorite musicians play, and go to a music store to try several. Probably Craigslist from there.

Are there issues I should know about when buying used (manXcat, you mentioned "cast-off problems")?

What's an aux input?

Sounds like it's mostly about getting something comfortable to play, as tone is determined more by amps and pedals than the guitar?