You're not really a good samaritan when you're using emergency frequencies without authorization. Sounds like he deserves the punishment.
I let my membership expire after they unilaterally cancelled my paper QST. I'm still mad about that, and the steady trickle of other news doesn't make me want to go back.
Hopefully someone or some other business will buy them. Hate to see them go.
For POTA contacts I'd just fix it.
In a contest that would be cheating.
Some clubs meet in person and on zoom simultaneously, does your local one? I'd get in contact with them anyway, someone might have a loaner rig you can use to get on the air and see what interests you the most.
Parks on the Air and Summits on the Air are popular an a lot of fun, but you'd need a radio first.
With some basic tools you could build your own radio from a kit.
I'd get an SSB capable radio unless you're only interested in FSK modes.
I'm excited to see the new digital modes people bring to ham radio, or invent.
If you missed the broadcast, I got a recording: https://youtu.be/IgbggcpxrC0 The CW ends ~4:22 and I decode it after that, so stop there if you want to do it yourself.
If you're just looking to build stuff, there are plenty of circuits to find on the web.
And +1 on building being more fun than operating!