Great explanation of the differences! I would argue though that even for noise, distortion, and RF/shielding problems you can get quite far with "cookbook" leve

Great explanation of the differences! I would argue though that even for noise, distortion, and RF/shielding problems you can get quite far with "cookbook" level knowledge (though I'll grant that it's quite likely to get let astray by leaky abstractions with these, like the many answers to "how/whether you should connect the shield of a USB plug/socket to PCB and/or chassis ground").