On machines where I have to use windows I run start10 to replace the start menu with something a little more bearable. I imagine there’s a FOSS equivalent but I bought a license years and years ago so I’ve never bothered to search.

What I’d really love is a script/shader/plugin that lets me do this within the engine - separate out the sprite and its texture so I can swap them out on the fly. Shouldn’t be too painful to implement but it’s not something I’ve seen anywhere before

Tailscale could also work, if they’re looking for something with a little less setup difficulty. I haven’t used it myself as I’m happy to tinker with WireGuard, but it’s supposed to be quite easy to get going and I think the free tier isn’t too restrictive.