This topic is about encouraging people with ostomies to strive for better solutions in their pouching systems and routines. The idea is not to settle for "good enough" but to continuously seek improvements in wear time, reliability, and ease of use. Here are some helpful insights and advice on how to achieve this:

1. Don't settle for the status quo. Keep experimenting with your pouching system to find what works best for you. Measure your progress and aim to improve continuously.

2. Consider making personal modifications to your equipment. For example, adding E-Z Vents can help with reliable "burping" if filters fail.

3. Be mindful of changes in your abilities, such as hand dexterity, as you age. Look for products that remain functional as your needs evolve.

4. Share your ideas and experiences with manufacturers. Companies like Convatec and Hollister have shown interest in user feedback and have engaged in positive conversations with ostomates.

5. Collective action can lead to changes. By coming together, ostomates can push for better pricing and product features.

6. More competition and user-driven design in the industry could lead to lower costs and better products. The cost of ostomy supplies should be more affordable.

7. Filters are often a weak point. Many users find alternatives like E-Z Vents or manually "burping" their pouches more effective.

8. Companies have been open to user input in the past. For instance, Convatec has run design-improvement contests, and United Ostomy has involved executives and designers in field-testing prototypes.

9. Small, continuous improvements can lead to significant gains. Customize your equipment whenever possible instead of settling for one-size-fits-all solutions.

10. Consider these guiding principles: "If it ain't broke, break it" to challenge complacency, and "Perfect is the enemy of good enough" to balance improvement with practicality.

11. Think about what features you'd like to see in products, such as shorter pouches, better filters, more color choices, or loyalty perks like a free box after long-term purchasing.

12. Share your product modifications and hacks with others. This can help fellow ostomates and provide manufacturers with valuable real-world feedback.

13. Collective advocacy, where many customers speak together, can increase leverage in pushing for better designs, lower prices, and adaptive features across brands.