Ok maybe it's not ironic per se... But I had a solo sesh yesterday and I would estimate that I spent at least 3x as long prepping and cleaning up vs ACTUALLY getting messy. Just a lot of work for a little enjoyment. But... So worth it.
I think we've all been there - mixing, opening containers, putting up plastic sheeting, etc. And then the session lasts significantly shorter than the prep. At least with the cleanup, if you remember to have plastic bags on hand and try and dump cans, bottles, etc. in the bags right away, that saves time. Rolling up messy plastic into a tight ball and sticking it in a large plastic bag - excellent.