Look into retro fitting recirculation pumps. You don't necessarily need access to the plumbing behind a wall and can add a loop under a sink in your bathroom. Ask This Old House has quite a few videos on the subject: https://youtu.be/KdA_gfau1s4

There's citric acid based softeners as well like nuvoh2o https://nuvoh2o.com/

Not sure how it affects septic systems though.

Is there no scenario in which a company could buy back their stocks? Or are companies that offer stock forever stuck with never getting those back? That would kill a lot of opportunities for companies to start up, expand their business, or take advantage of other opportunities to grow. You can't always get money from a bank loan.