Ah, but the thing about play-by-ear starting in childhood is that they had good models. I think I have something akin to perfect pitch but my Mom and the sister who most raised me sang tunelessly, so sang EXACTLY as they did, and it sounded right to me. Which it was, from our standpoint, it was everyone ELSE who cringed. So I think I could learn to play the piano by ear because I can already pick out any tune I know, note for note (no chords) with trial and error, I think with practice I could do it more seamlessly. But it would take years, and I'd like to have something with less ramp-up time.

What is the diff between a mountain dulcimer, any other dulcimer that isn't hammered, and an autoharp? Are they all secretly zithers, which is about my level?