If you're a single mom with student loans, a car payment, and living paycheck-to-paycheck, then $20,000 would be devastating and a reserve is critical.

To Avoid Criticism: Say Nothing, Do Nothing, Be Nothing + You miss 100% of the shots you never take.

This may seem obvious but it is absolutely critical.

Books On the Importance of Cash Flows – Critical to real estate investing.

As I'm trying to come up with estimated closing costs to run the numbers on potential deals, I'm trying to turn a more critical eye to the closing costs from buying my personal home last year. 

This will be a remote investment, so yes, a good PM will be critical.  

Not only should you not have to worry about tenant placement and rent collection - but maintaining and improving your asset is critical to protect cash flow.   

On any deal it is critical to understand the sponsors track record, business plan, and the underlying assumptions on the purchase.

We are seeing a groundswell of landlord criticisms especially right now in this pandemic era.

In my opinion, your initial criticism may have been a bit unfair.