Deciding what to install, what to build, and what to avoid doesn’t need to be guesswork. We use a simple framework on every project.
Install when the problem is common, the plugin is reputable and actively maintained, and the cost of building it ourselves outweighs the benefit. Build when the need is specific to you, the logic is small, or a plugin would drag in far more than you need. Avoid anything abandoned, anything that wants to take over your whole site, and anything that duplicates what your theme already does.
The result is a site that stays fast and easy to maintain for years.