I've never taken gravity readings.
Started brewing from a kit received for Christmas.
Kit didn't include a hydrometer, LME was pre-measured, and
added water to end up with a specific volume.
Progressed to making my own recipes with LME. Using
conversion tables slowly switched to partial mash, DME, then to all grain.
Always added water, to end up with a specific volume. Slowly increased
grain & water, to eventually end up with 4.5 gallon batches.
My brewing kettle is one 16 qt SS pot on a kitchen stove. After a few
brews being a tad too strong or weak, adjusted grains and hop amounts to where
an ABV and taste was agreeable. I'm about to start my 29th 4.5 gallon
all grain batch. The procedures/processes have changed many many
times to where it is today. Currently exploring different grains/hops
and making very good beer. I have 2 beers every night with dinner,
and haven't bought beer in almost a year. From brew day to drinking
is a minimum of 8 weeks.
Last fall the Wife, Daughter, Son-in-Law, and myself visited a local brewery.
We sampled about 7 beers, all agreed that my beers were much better.
Learned so much in 2+ years, as the song goes
"Live and Learn from Fools and from Sages"