When the mempool is congested, it really looks like waiting in line outside a bubble tea shop: placing an order doesn't mean you'll get your drink immediately, it just gives you a number. Miners/ordering services are more like shop clerks; whoever tips more (pays higher fees) gets served first. If you tip less, you'll keep "waiting in line," and if you wait too long, the system might treat you as if you never showed up (expire or get replaced), and someone else might cut in line to grab a cheaper spot (a quick snatch).

Recently, new L1/L2 projects are incentivizing to pull TVL, and I've also seen veteran users complain about "mining, selling," making the chain even more crowded: everyone rushes in to grab coupons, but the queue fees end up more expensive than bubble tea... Anyway, I either add a little tip to get a certain outcome or wait until fewer people are around before placing an order.

There are many tutorials, but I prefer those that clearly explain "what exactly is happening to your transaction in the queue," rather than a bunch of jargon that gives me a headache. That's all for now.