Passing and others considering you a woman (trans women)

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I recently came across an interesting discussion on 2 groups of trans women and their attitude toward passing:

1.) This group simply wants to be referred to with feminine pronouns without regard to passing, and is more interested in spending hours each day "dolling" themselves up.

2.) To this group, passing means waking up at 3 AM, not made up at all, due to an emergency with a large shirt on and the firefighters call you "ma'am" (i.e. they regard you as a woman).

Me, I lean toward group number 2. I have no interest in living the kind of life that group number 1 likes.

One thing I notice is that I was "ma'am"ed more a few years ago when I had done a lot of electrolysis, but years of depression, and interruptions to my hormone treatment due to hospitalizations and mental instability, have probably allowed a lot of it to grow back. The thing with a beard is that even if you shave it close, it still affects the way your jaw area is perceived. If you remove it all, you get that "baby face" look that makes you more passable.

It's clear I need to get rid of my daggum facial hair once and for all. The only problem, it's expensive, and pretty much no insurance pays for it, and I'm on a fixed income.

Yar, electrolysis can be very expensive. What colour is your hair, and skin tone? If blonde, you may actually be getting away with a close shave every morning even if to you, it feels like you don't. Lots of cis women have "peach fuzz" and are still gendered women. If you have dark hair and pale skin, laser might be of use. It's not as permanent as electrolysis, but it can be much cheaper, especially if you do a whole course (say 8 sessions) at a go, they often discount. It will grow back, but it lessens it a lot. I know I'm not a transwoman, but as physically genderqueer, I have had elements from both binary transitions in my transition and this was one of them.
To me, many of the transwomen who "pass" best are those who opt for a natural, unmade look, even if they are more masculine looking girls. Maybe especially if they are. I think a lot of women overcompensate, and end up making themselves up too much - which, if they are more masculine looking, ends up making them look like drag queens, not the cis presentations they are shooting for.
I can understand the desire to "pass" without all the work. I'm the same about looking alright without having to put products on myself. Also keep in mind that a lot of "passing" isn't on the overt feminine stuff like six inch heels, big hair and false eyelashes. Much of it is subtle, such as body language and mannerisms, patterns of speech, etc. Just because you might have to out up with a bit of shadowing on the jaw for a while until you can afford it doesn't mean you're necessarily doomed to being constantly misgendered if your presentation is otherwise feminine.