While exploring Midnight Network's developer tools during the CreatorPad task, what lingered was how the promised "rational privacy" through selective disclosure feels more gated in early practice than the narrative suggests. Midnight Network, $NIGHT , #night @MidnightNetwork markets programmable ZK privacy as accessible via Compact's TypeScript-like syntax, lowering barriers for Web3 dApps. Yet in hands-on attempts, crafting even basic shielded transactions required wrestling with DUST resource mechanics and precise visibility rules—steps that defaulted to public exposure unless carefully overridden, turning quick prototyping into deliberate, almost cautious configuration. It made me reflect on how privacy here isn't the seamless default many expect from zero-knowledge promises, but a layer that demands upfront intent and ongoing management. Does this caution protect against misuse, or does it quietly favor those already comfortable with cryptographic nuance over everyday builders?