Precision measuring can be a hobby too!
How good you make something can only be as good as your measurement tools!
For some relative measurements it can be pretty easy to run out of resolution. For example, on a rainy day cylinder square project the 10ths indicator is lacking. Remember that half a tenth is 50 millionths, 20 millionths is only splitting that tenth into 5.
In this case, the square gets checked, then lapped, and rechecked. It's easily near 20 millionths of square over 5 inches.
Yes, temperature is certainly a concern. But for quick relative measurements and being somewhat observant of temperature, you can still gauge a lot. No, the surface plate isn't in a temperature controlled room, yet...