Yeah totally agree with @milacraig on that... the clipping mask trick with multiply layers is the way to go for organic stuff. I set a soft brush on like 30% opacity and just kind of dab around the edges, lets the mask breathe a bit. If you're fighting the mask edges too much, try adding a slight gaussian blur to the base shape before clipping - smooths everything out real nice. Keep it loose and don't stress the precision, that's where the texture comes from.

Honestly the whole cast vs forged debate misses something bigger. Even the best forged steel tool is only as good as its heat treat, which is where most budget brands skimp out. A buddy of mine works in a machine shop and says he's seen name brand sockets crack because the tempering was rushed.

It's always the stuff you barely notice that ends up being the real problem down the road.

Three zippers failing in five coats is insane.

Wait hold on, 50 episodes? Are you telling me you rewatched the whole thing three times? That's wild, I barely made it through season 3 once without getting lost in all the factions and politics. But I gotta admit, that detail about the protomolecule having alien AI built into it blew my mind on a rewatch. Like the first time I thought it was just some gooey space stuff, but then I realized it's basically a terraforming weapon with a mind of its own. That show really does pack a punch when you look closer.