I think you have the gist of it joe.
Bearing in mind the depletion you mentioned (my brain didn't get it re "sirloins" ,..do you mean you missed peak "swap out" time from being down the butchers or owt?
Before you suffer more inflation, perhaps hit the button for some "for later" proper (but small) panel & set up for your USB units, ..whatever you are learning now you can carry on, just the rampancy of "world state" I think press the button on something now & stick it under the bed space Joe.
& buy some more battery banks to swap out as a buffer if running it fine (just to taunt me further) OR get Colin to investigate a USB battery box kit for some of his new stuff to do log term testing with & utilise that as the buffer
What's the news on your Turkish electronics mate? has he found a new place or has he GONE gone?