So my advice is, offer to make stuff for others for a while and accept work that has plans and measurements and are things you want to make, let somebody else do the research for you .
Lack of feedback is, for me, a big drag, one reason I miss guys like Norm Hart as he always appreciated any effort by anyone , seeing ones work in use by others is a big plus , Dave Snow was very discouraged when he released his Alma Valley line and got virtually no feedback, it feels like one has dropped the work into a void, no way to know whether its being used or not, or what was wrong with it .That's why I try to go round and praise stuff when I can , as I am sure that its disheartening for others to put work up and get nothing back, its of course not to be expected that one has to get any feedback, we all have busy lives, but from my perspective I find it helpful as it makes me feel like its worth continuing with a route.