We had ours re-upholstered by a local specialist, it was cool to be able to choose the leather etc but keep dad's favorite chair. Cost as much as a used chair to do, but worth it.

Could be part of it! My beard wears through my motorcycle helmet cheekpads really fast.

We had one, but be mindful to wash it regularly (wipe down with a leather cleaner, super easy) if you want it to last a long time. Apparently the oils from your hair can really wear down the leather headrest.

So to preface: I am barred (inactive) in Mass, but I don't practice criminal law there so treat this like I'm a layperson. I do practice criminal defense and was a prosecutor in California, and they have a similar rule, so I'll just answer based on the laws there.

That's pretty much correct, at least in CA. The way it works in CA is if bail is set, it must be at a level that's affordable to the individual (ie not set on a schedule sheet) but still be an incentive to return to court. There can be additional requirements for bail like an ankle monitor, but that's not always needed. However, as you mentioned, depending on the severity of the crime, there's a strong possibility that bail will just not be set. Like robbery, for example, which is a violent crime (and counts as a 'strike' for CA sentencing purposes). It's very serious and so the judge may decide that the danger to the community and the risk of flight outweighs the accused's right to bail. They weigh a number of factors, but they're also basing the seriousness on how the DA charged the case, not on a hearing with evidence presented. For example, I have a client right now accused of a very serious crime and was given no bail, but the violent crime he's charged with was done in self-defense, which isn't in the police report or the complaint, so the judge can't really consider it.

So simply put, the judge first determines SHOULD they get bail, and then determines how much based on their income/resources.

No, not indefinitely. In a felony trial, you have to have a preliminary hearing early on in the process. The purpose of the preliminary hearing is to determine (by putting on a mini-trial) if there's probable cause to believe the person accused actually did the crime so that you're not holding someone indefinitely. This is determined by a judge, and the defendant has an attorney to challenge the witnesses and evidence presented. Prosecutors need to prove (admittedly to a lower standard than at trial, again, probable cause) every element of the crimes. Typically these are set to occur within like 10 days of being charged, so that people aren't wrongfully held. This is in most states, if not all of them (Louisiana may be an exception, for example).

Now, practically speaking many defendants waive their own rights so that their attorney has more time to prepare, there are sometimes benefits to resolving a case before that hearing, but that's their choice. If they really were held in custody with no evidence, they'd do the hearing ASAP and they'd have their cases dismissed. The thing is, that almost never happens.