There are always going to be outliers but I think the moral of the story is that both of those things are worthy of making the beers better if you pay attention to details. Both of them will require some cash outlay and dealing with the inherent learning curve. I've run a homebrew shop for 8 years so I have a pretty good understanding of the experience people have with both of those process changes and both can be a big pain in the butt.
It is possible to brew all grain with very little equipment. A pot, a bag and a thermometer is all you really need. Hell, you can even skip the bag and strain through a colander if you wanted. The biggest pitfall that may make the beer taste like a step backwards is the water but if you pick an amber recipe for the first one, the odds of it being undrinkable is reduced.
Kegging has probably two major soul crushing pitfalls. First is a leak on the gas side that can empty your CO2 overnight. Second is a leak on the liquid side that dumps 5 gallons into the the kegerator/on the floor overnight. I think everyone that has been kegging for a few years has had at least one of these happen, if not both, if not multiple times. Hence the learning curve.
Knowing what they have brought to the table in my own brewing, I wouldn't give up either no matter what. All grain brewing and kegging are a fixture for me.
It is possible to brew all grain with very little equipment. A pot, a bag and a thermometer is all you really need. Hell, you can even skip the bag and strain through a colander if you wanted. The biggest pitfall that may make the beer taste like a step backwards is the water but if you pick an amber recipe for the first one, the odds of it being undrinkable is reduced.
Kegging has probably two major soul crushing pitfalls. First is a leak on the gas side that can empty your CO2 overnight. Second is a leak on the liquid side that dumps 5 gallons into the the kegerator/on the floor overnight. I think everyone that has been kegging for a few years has had at least one of these happen, if not both, if not multiple times. Hence the learning curve.
Knowing what they have brought to the table in my own brewing, I wouldn't give up either no matter what. All grain brewing and kegging are a fixture for me.