If you mean, like, stuff made from fresh ingredients at the grocery store, I’ll agree, it’s the same stuff that you’d end up making. If it’s containerized, there’s the whole addition of ingredients for the sake of preservation, and some of that might be worth avoiding.

And so all things equal in the meal, just cost. Buying potato salad is probably more expensive than buying it’s parts, although then it’s probably not more expensive than starting new versus always having mayo in the fridge, that kinda thing.

I love potatoes but I honestly don’t love potato salad.

I have a neighbor who’s four years older than me, but the rift between 1983 and 1987, technology, seems insurmountable, it’s insane.