Hey Justin, glad it was helpful. Correct, that's a fundamental limitation. I like to focus on building positions in companies I wanted anyway, then just sell calls whenever I've amassed 100 shares...if it even makes sense. Likewise, I wouldn't bend over backward to write a cash-secured put unless I would've been happy to place a limit order for the same amount.

The "cheaper" alternative is the poor man's covered call. I used the scare quotes since there's always a downside. I'm not a fan, for reasons discussed here: https://medium.com/@erikbassett/the-poor-mans-covered-call-what-it-is-why-i-don-t-use-it-97aac9ab6273