Don't be so hard on yourself. For simple emergency backup power, there's nothing wrong with one of those "throw-away" gensets. They're cheap, compact and, well, cheap and compact. 1,000 hours comprises a lot of monthly tests and occasional needful use. Don't get RPM envy just because you read what the enthusiasts on this and other sites say about how a genset "should" be configured.
I have a friend who has one of those 1000 Watt Honda lunch-box gennys that he uses to backup his ISP business. He's also got UPSes and batteries. The genny is just a third line of defense. Use whatever suits your needs.
Now if you're talking about operating off-grid for extended periods of time, yes the 3600 rpm genny is about the worst solution to your power needs.
Quinn