I don’t have a lot to add that hasn’t already been said toward your primary question. Something you said later on made me want to chime in. While there is indeed no replacement for experience, it is possible to accelerate that growth through education. If you haven’t already, watch YouTube videos on elements of design and principles of art and specifically how they relate to photography. You may see an increase in “keepers”.
I don’t have a lot to add that hasn’t already been said toward your primary question. Something you said later on made me want to chime in. While there is indeed no replacement for experience, it is possible to accelerate that growth through education. If you haven’t already, watch YouTube videos on elements of design and principles of art and specifically how they relate to photography. You may see an increase in “keepers”.