/nIn news
The first things I do after a browser install:

1) Change the home page away from the initial value.
I like aboutlugins, because it is just some text
on the screen.

I do the same, only I change the default to:
Chrome: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
Opera: opera://settings/clearBrowserData
Firefox: aboutreferences#privacy
etc.

BTW, if you can figure out how to make the Firefox URL the link that is
titled "aboutreferences#privacy", you'll be my hero!

And yes, I know about incongnito mode - which I use also with shortcuts.
Chrome: Target: C:\path\chrome.exe --incognito
Opera: Target: "C:\path\opera\launcher.exe" -private
Firefox: Target: "C:\path\firefox.exe" -private
etc. (Note the quotes matter where they are and where they're not.)

Microsoft Edge is a whole 'nother beast!
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/create-shortcuts-start-any-browser-private-or-incognito-browsing

2) Set the Download directory.

I set it to always ask because just as screwdrivers go in either the
flathead or phillips or torx drawers while nutdrivers and wrenches and
pliers go elsewhere, each document has a folder where it belongs.

This location where it belongs is determined decades ago, and while, like
my closet, the document locations are constantly being organized, the
basics (shirts, shoes, pants, socks, jackets, suits, belts, etc.) never
change.

It wouldn't do for me to suddenly start using
My Documents or Documents for a download. What
an outrage :-) I want custom location for
all my seekrets.

There are fundamentally two models:
1. Put it anywhere and let a search find it
2. Put it where it belongs.

Do you run a search every time you need a #20 Torx screwdriver?
Or does it have a place and it's in that place right now?

I don't sort files into folders. I tag them by
changing the file name, and adding terms that
I think I will remember later. Then use the
search, insert a tag or two, and find it
that way when required.

OK. So you use the "search" method.
That's fine - as long as you like that method.

I hate it - personally - where I consider that a "search" is an admission
of failure - and - proudly - I can state that I can't even search on my
Windows machine because I somehow turned that off.

I turned off almost everythign in Cortana and in privacy settings - one of
which is the ability to search.

So, once in a while, I have to actually run a search by hand! Yuck.
Try this. It's not fun!
dir c:\* /s/a/l/on/b c:\temp\mysearch.txt

Too bad Windows doesn't have a native grep.