"these orbital polishers give you a good chance with minor scratches"

That's interesting. Having spent many more hours than I'd like to admit watching YT 'detailing' channels ('Forensic Detailing' is a good one) I now have more theoretical knowledge about this stuff - practical application is, as always, a different matter.

I do like a car to look good - the old (black) x-type would reward a bit of time and effort - but have resisted going down the (seems to me) OCD rabbit hole of £200+ polishers and a stock of different compounds, polishes, fillers, glazes, sealants, etc. (you get the picture).

There's a local chap who's a hobbyist who'll do a full day or more paint correction job for about £150 or so (local firms charge four times that) as long as you promise never to use a sponge or chamois leather on the car.

I have used successfully (and not too expensively) a couple of products. Meguiars Ultimate Compound is much less aggressive than T-Cut but seems to me more effective and easy to use by hand. After washing (but not drying) the car I use 'Demon Shine' spray (because I got it cheap) which does leave a good shine and beading effect.

I do have (but have never dared to use) a wool 'polishing bonnet' for my drill and have been a bit tempted by the Halfords-type two-handed car polishers (about £20 or so). Is this the sort of thing OP used, or the much more expensive 'proper job'? (I can see me burning through to bare metal in seconds with one of those!)