Slitherine

I just paid an HUUUGE amount of money (something like 17,000 gold I think) for a decision that would give me the Aristocratic trait, thinking it would improve culture. WRONG!!!! It increases decadence by 10% and gives you some extra generals (no use to me as I'm at peace and desperately trying to go up the ladder, being only a few steps from the bottom). I think for that price is it much too expensive and deadly, there should be a 10% increase in culture as well (patrons of the arts etc). Anyway, there's still hope that I might be offered the same decision again so I can replace the trait with another, for a another similarly large amount of money.

At that price, the decision could be more clear as to what the bonuses you will get from each of the four possible choices.
I remained a democrat as Athens all game long because none of the option looked remotely better and I wouldn't run the risk of wasting money and never being able to go back.

Heh, I made the same mistake too. I was able to switch back to Industrial focus (extra production but a health penalty) fairly quickly though.

Later on, i realized I really wanted those +3 leaders back, so switched back to Aristocratic.

The good news here is, it’s an error you’ll only make once.