The more experienced I get as a developer the less importance I place on avoiding duplication. The amount of time wasted breaking apart abstractions because someone year or two earlier was intent on avoiding duplication… A lot of these abstractions are just not worth the time to implement or maintain. It’s much better to have all the duplication and then in time the optimal abstraction will become apparent, if there even is one.

Sort of agree, I don't rush into abstractions the same way I used to; premature abstraction is definitely a thing.

These days I prefer to let duplication accumulate, allowing me to make a more informed decision.

But mindless duplication is still a bad idea imo.