Never mind 20 years old, I use a puller for much younger cartridges. Saves me needing the pull and pray method.
This is one of those things I believe to be more about feel.
That plumber has done this 1000 times and will make it look easy.
They can pass you tools, walk you through it, give you as much help as you can possibly receive, but you'll struggle a ton anyway. Or, as you say, break it.
Practice makes perfect. Sometimes it is still cheaper to get somebody who knows what they're doing. We can't yet remote that in.
This is one of those things I believe to be more about feel.
That plumber has done this 1000 times and will make it look easy.
They can pass you tools, walk you through it, give you as much help as you can possibly receive, but you'll struggle a ton anyway. Or, as you say, break it.
Practice makes perfect. Sometimes it is still cheaper to get somebody who knows what they're doing. We can't yet remote that in.