Yes any standard sized utility knife blades should fit. I tested a bunch of different brands from my local hardware store.

FYI those are stupid expensive. Your can get 50-75 for that price at your local hardware store.

It's $3 which is well worth the time saved by not having to design it from scratch.

Someone had to use their skills to create it, do you think they should work for free?

But it's not just information, someone sat in front of their computer and put the work in to design it, then print it and iterate.

You're paying for that process, and for the time and effort the person took to acquire the necessary skills.

However, there should be a noticeable price difference due to the easy scaling / replicatibility when distributing digital goods.

I'm with you insofar as the final product feels like it should be 3 bucks, not the file.

I mean, buying things like clothes patterns and carpentry plans is definitely a thing. An stl is really no different.

Don't get an ender unless you want your hobby to be working on the printer. That's fine, but it's not the same as having something ready to go when you unbox it.

Prusa printers are quality and open source; very much worth supporting if you have the money. Your hobby will be printing things for other things if you get one.

Bambu printers are cheap, but not open source. However, you will spend most of your time actually making stuff instead of fixing the printer.

Cheap, reliable, open source/modifiable. Pick two.

I have an AnkerMake M5 and it’s gloriously painless. There are intrinsic unavoidable challenges to 3D printing, but this thing has been incredible for casual creation.

https://www.ankermake.com/

I have a 3D printer buyer's guide on my website that lists a few. I mostly use and would recommend any Bambu printer, there's a few that can suit any price range. Elegoo also make good printers too which won't break the bank

Ender 3 is pretty good introductory model and does nice prints with little effort.

If you're a buy once, cry once sort of person, Prusa makes good stuff that has a lot of community support.