You're not wrong, but that doesn't mean that we can't take other measures to get back below R=1. The primary one I can think of is for governments of the world to give long term contracts to N95 mask makers so they can fully spin up their factories. It's been 9 months for $diety's sake.

Non-fit homemade and non-rated masks help prevent others from getting sick. But if everyone had access to cheap N95 that actually prevented them from getting sick we'd be a lot better off. The kids would still be getting it and getting everyone sick at home/school because they wouldn't wear them consistently right, but people without kids at home wouldn't be getting sick at nearly the rate. Every bit counts.