That seems pretty low. Mine is 1600 ANSI and I wouldn’t go any lower. I would also suggest a good screen. I have the PET Crystal screen by XYScreens. It was expensive but well worth it.

I bought me a Xaomi 4K ultra short throw projector for under $2,000 4 years ago. It projects to my 150” screen with excellent contrast, resolution and brightness. I love that projector. I would consider it a real projector. Look up Ultra Short Throw projectors. I know there are a bunch of new ones on the market. You want good resolution and high lumens. Most cheap ones don’t do either.

Same. I was diagnosed with OCD decades ago but yet I seem to have these sorts of tendencies as well.