I love the detective work in family tree research. When I started I only knew one of my grandad’s names. It was 2003 I think when Genesreunited started. I was soon hooked and in my head I was doing one tree for my daughter so it was both sides divided into 4 files, similar paperwork to you from same sources.
I rarely look at the files now as I save it all online and in files on my computer. That doesn’t mean I’m organised though! I also put everything on Ancestry ( I don’t find Findmypast trees very user friendly, I do transfer updated gedcoms there every now and then so that I pick up hints ) and their selection of records is great. I also have MacFamilytree, not so good at keeping that up to date! The detective work is more interesting.
My husband is Welsh ( watching football right now ) so I get the surnames thing!