I’m open to suggestions for alternatives for functional part 3D modeling.
I use Fusion 360 because it’s free for hobbyists and it’s features for functional 3D modeling blow away any other software I’ve tried in the open source/free/low cost market.
Fusion 360 handles parameters beautifully, has a very flexible timeline editing system, and generally is very forgiving about how you use the software.
I’d happily pay up to $120/year for hobby use. It’s that good. I can’t afford $600 a year for a hobby tool though.
The closest alternative I know is FreeCAD. It has a notable following, but compared to Fusion it’s slow, clunky, buggy, and fights you every step of the way you use it. In FreeCAD, there is usually one right way to do something, and dozens of wrong ways that all end up with you having to redo tons of work.
TLDR: I’ve created all sorts of useful things in Fusion. All I’ve created in FreeCAD is tears.
Ok but to balance it: it forces you to confront your own on the topic as well.
That would force you to selectively use it since often times reality is somewhere between our personal view of it and other opposing views.
Chose the wrong situation and you’ll both be crying in the corner with shatter worlds. Chose the ones where the people are truly disconnected from reality and perhaps you’ll change their lives - hopefully for the better.