I recommend implementing them for the fun of it. I love it. But don't put anything you write into production until you can leave a randomized test suite running overnight without errors.
Example:
Random op generator: https://github.com/ottypes/text-unicode/blob/master/test/gen...
Which powers this fuzzer: https://github.com/ottypes/fuzzer/blob/master/lib/index.js
You just replied don't. Have you considered he wants to this regardless of not applying them purely commercially and wants to perform research, or in a novel industrial capacity?
> It's just... sad to know enough that I produce less than optimal work but don't know enough to confidently prevent it from happening over and over and over again.
Basically, the notion that not knowing how to implement this means the resulting product is sub-optimal. My counter-argument is that delegating work that needs expert domain knowledge and skills to the experts and use the fruits of their labor will result in a better product.
Based on everything I've seen about them, OT/CRDTs sound like they are that.