I don't necessarily see that as a problem. When you get to that point, you've proved that this task, whatever it is, was worth automating. You've built a tool a

I don't necessarily see that as a problem. When you get to that point, you've proved that this task, whatever it is, was worth automating. You've built a tool and even though it was clunky and limited, people found it useful. So maybe now with that proof that a small investment paid off, it is time to take it to the next level and make a larger investment to do it better with professional grade tools this time. Yes, you have to start over, but if the other alternative was never being able to get to that point in the first place, it's still better overall.