When is a 30 minute job not a 30 minute job?, I dislike intensely, fuel lines. Is hate too strong? Options

[NARP74]

Tried to take the 2.0 out for a spring drive a month or two ago, wouldn't start. Tried several times, no go. Then realized I did not hear my noisy Facet fuel pump. Banged on it a bit, still no go. Looked at the fuse panel, blown fuse. Replaced it, still no start. Grabbed a few more things and shook them, sprayed gas down the carb throat and it started. Did a few more times and it stayed running now.

Not wanting to get stranded on a drive I decide to start with replacing the fuel filter, being lazy, I have no idea how old it is. Procrastinated, waited a month or two and took a shot at it on a great weather Saturday. 30 minute job me thinks. Wrong. Nothing but trouble. Can't get the lines off, very stiff, must be old. Filter that came off was 8mm/8mm. One I have for a replacement is 8mm/12mm. Why do they do that? What am I missing. Am I supposed to have the flow of fuel from the tank to the engine and back full of adapters, different size lines and lots of leak potential? Am i missing something?

Decided to replace the fuel pump at the same time. The Facet brass barbs will not let go. Up to my armpits in gas, leaking all over, tried clamping in several places, still running some. Manage to drain it into cans as much as possible. Cussing, smelly, but no fire. Cutting hose all over, very frustrated.

So now I am looking at new fuel pump and filter, new lines, new mounting, new locations, new holes, a whole project. And I need parts. Oh and the main fuel lines are still old. i have new ones, but I was saving that job for an upcoming engine swap.

Is it just me? Am I missing something? If the output from the tank is 10mm and the return is 8mm, why do I have to have 8mm, 10mm and 12mm lines and adapters on both the feed and return lines based on the parts and pieces I can find now? I actually used AI to find a fuel pump in England that is 10mm/10mm, they wont ship to the USA. That would have saved several connections. Has to be a better way???

What am I missing? Enlighten me. What would Tygaboy do? What would F1 do?