I think the people you play with have a big impact. I’ve been fortunate to play with some really great people (drummer in particular) and it just levels me up immediately. Then I go jam with some plod-alongs, and my skills nosedive!
Also interested in the answers. Asked a bloke in a music shop about a file set 20-odd years ago. He said it was cheaper just to pay for a set up.
50 basses later… 🤦🏻♂️
I assume it’s to lessen the impact to your fingers when you walk in to some immovable object loading in. I’ve got a hell of a lump on my little finger where I bashed it on a hand rail carrying a tumble dryer - if only it had rounded edges…