Re misspellings -- i have never learned to spell well, and was fortunate that spell check came along just in time for my college writing. The one time i had to type instead of use a computer, the English professor was concerned that something had happened to me.

Re gadgets: i'm currently on the basic side, peeling carrots with a paring knife. A peeler didn't seem that extreme but - bam -- down the slippery slope to mandolines and siralizers.