10 Unpopular Opinions in the 3D Printing World (That Might Be True)
Picture this: you’re proudly showing off your latest print, and someone casually says, “PLA is trash.” Boom. The room goes silent.
Welcome to the world of unpopular 3D printing opinions—where everyone has one, but not everyone’s brave enough to say it out loud.
I recently asked around and went digging through 3D printing communities (including my own amazing Facebook group) to gather the spiciest takes that people love to debate. Whether you’re nodding along or rage-scrolling by number 6, here are 10 controversial opinions that might just make you think twice.
🧨 1. “PETG is Overrated—It’s Just the Worst of Both Worlds”
People love to call PETG the ‘perfect middle ground,’ but some say it’s a pain: sticks too much, strings too much, and warps more than they expected.
👉 Truth: If you don’t have your temps, speeds, and retractions dialed in, PETG can feel like a frustrating mess.
🧨 2. “You Don’t Need to Know CAD to Succeed in 3D Printing”
Sure, designing your own models is powerful—but let’s be real: remixing existing STLs and printing top sellers from Thingiverse or Printables is a legit path, too.
👉 Truth: There are entire Etsy stores and Patreons built on remixes and clever rebrands.
🧨 3. “Auto Bed Leveling is a Crutch, Not a Feature”
Some folks say, “Just learn to level your bed manually like the rest of us.”
👉 Truth: ABL might be a crutch—but it’s also a huge time-saver and sanity preserver. Especially when your bed is warped or your Z-offset keeps drifting.
🧨 4. “Most Timelapses Are Boring After 10 Seconds”
Another Benchy rising to synthwave beats? Meh.
👉 Truth: Unless the timelapse is artistic, functional, or tells a story, most people scroll past it after a few seconds.
🧨 5. “NSFW Printing Is Keeping a Lot of Makers Afloat Financially”
It’s still taboo in some circles, but adult STL marketplaces are booming.
👉 Truth: Some creators are using this niche to fund their main passion projects—and making serious income while doing it.
🧨 6. “Hobby Printers Are Just as Good as Industrial Ones—Sometimes Better”
That overpriced ‘professional’ printer at your workplace? Your tuned-up $800 Bambu might be more reliable.
👉 Truth: Hobbyist machines have come so far—it’s often the user, not the machine, that matters most.
🧨 7. “You Don’t Need a Farm—You Need a Niche”
Forget building a print farm. Build a brand around a specific product that sells.
👉 Truth: Many 6-figure print businesses started with one printer and a really dialed-in Etsy listing.
🧨 8. “Filament Reviews Are Useless Without Long-Term Testing”
If someone calls a filament “awesome” after one Benchy… be skeptical.
👉 Truth: Print quality, layer adhesion, moisture resistance—all that stuff shows up weeks in. Not on day one.
🧨 9. “Flexibles Aren’t Worth the Hassle for Most Makers”
TPU and flexibles are cool, but they’re tricky: feeding issues, oozing, ultra-slow speeds.
👉 Truth: Unless you’re doing something that requires TPU (like phone cases or gaskets), most hobbyists skip it after the first headache.
🧨 10. “Most People Don’t Want to Learn Slicer Settings—They Just Want It to Work”
There, I said it.
👉 Truth: Plug-and-play slicers, downloadable profiles, and auto-tuning are the future—and for most people, that’s a good thing.
💬 What’s YOUR Unpopular 3D Printing Take?
I’d love to hear it! Drop a comment below or come join the debate in the I Love 3D Printing Facebook Group.
Whether you agree or disagree—these opinions make the hobby better by sparking conversations.
Enjoyed this post? Share it with your maker friends. Let’s stir the pot a little! 😏
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