Pickup swaps are flashy because they promise an immediate tonal shift, often with a clean "before/after" narrative. But everyday playability is governed less by output and more by ergonomics, stability, and how efficiently the instrument translates your touch into consistent pitch and articulation. If the guitar feels resistant, your fretting pressure increases, your timing tightens in the wrong way, and accuracy quietly deteriorates. That's why the neck deserves priority: it dictates hand posture, mechanical tolerance, and whether the instrument stays predictable across a normal week of playing.