Really excessive dust will degrade contrast but we are talking excessive!
If specs can be seen in the viewfinder, it is in the camera. eg focusing screen etc.
If it’s in the images only, it’s on the sensor.

Sounds like the dust is in your camera and not the lens!

You could find dust in just about any lens and if you intend to use it, won't be long after you start using it that you will introduce dust.

That’s the plan.

...of pretty girl film photos.

If you stick a pretty girl in the frame does not mean you have a pretty film photo.
Many such photos have bad posing, bad expressions, bad lighting and bad composition.

I don't mind looking at bad photos from photographers just beginning or looking to improve.
Unfortunately, many pretty girl photos are usually from people who consider themselves skilled and would throw a hissy fit if you suggested something in their shot needed improvement.
I'm staying away from anywhere that has lots of pretty girl photos on display.

Thanks for those responding regarding the F4.
The one thing that concerns me about going the eBay/Japan route is having no idea how much use the camera has had. Then there is also the potential of LCD bleed in the F4.
I'll keep a look out but I probably would not buy unless I could find information on how much use the camera has had. This is where I would rather ideally like to come across an original owner from an internet/social media group who wants to put their F4 up for sale.

I would like to buy it and use it for quite a long period of time and not have it die on me 12 months later. This would be devastating! lol

Haha, how sad the world is today that exactly this could happen. People have lost all sense of enjoying life and being nice to each other. People look to find the negative in every situation of daily life.

The day I turn into this I'm ready to go.

Yes! Beeping is fun but there is also sexy beeping and not so sexy beeping. I like the beep on my D200 but the D3x is nowhere near as sexy.

Don’t think I ever want to do it again. Only if it’s to keep my job or something. Then I’ll do it as many times as it takes.

Now I just need to attend a protest and I would've had the full Covid experience.

I think I was more worried about the test and them shoving stuff up my nose and down my throat than getting Covid itself.
The test was actually surprisingly fine.

I told the tester I was a Covid testing virgin.
I told her my first time would be with her.
I told her I knew she had a lot of experience so asked her to be gentle with me.
Maybe this helped?

It is possible to travel back in time but there is a catch.
All you can do is go back in time and buy one camera body brand new from any period in the past.
What camera would you buy?

I'd buy the Nikon F4s.
First pro Nikon I ever held. The Nikon body that made me a Nikon user for life.
I never bought one, never owned one. It's the camera I will always wish I had.
I'd buy one used but I want literally a flawless camera and they are just impossible to find.
I do have a F4s brochure from back in the day and I value it. I guess it's better than nothing.

And there are those who will simply never take the vaccine.

Because I ruled it out in 1996 as not being beneficial. See? It’s just like Covid! My question is unanswered. Why? How can it possibly be 12 years or so of the best pros worldwide could not figure out an AF-ON button??? Must’ve been such sheeple back then those photographers!

Answer me this.
BBF was possible from 1996. Until around 2007/2008 no one was using it. Why not?

No, completely correct. There are times for continuous focus but the post I quoted gave the suggestion it is best generally. It is not.

BBF, that’s another subject altogether. BBF is kinda like Covid conspiracies. It pops up on the internet, a few people believe it and before you know it, you have masses of people all believing the same thing. They are convinced they are now awake.