RE: TO GI OR NOT TO GI THAT IS THE QUESTION
I really enjoyed this post! Coincidentally I also wrote recently about my experience starting training no gi BJJ and I see that we both agree on several points about it (especially the one about it being gross, haha, I thought I was just being delicate about it).
Despite the icky factor, I am finding it very fun, and sometimes I even feel like I do better than when I roll without the gi, since I can execute escapes and overall use my speed and agility in ways I can't do when I am pinned down or stuck on some annoying guards like spider guard.
I don't like having someones ball sweat wiped across my face trying to defend a triangle.
I can relate. And some of the fit guys at my gym are big fans of the "spats with no shorts on top" look, to make it even more awkward.