Replying to my own question (I wouldn't have needed to post if I had just waited to play, that'll teach me)
- I managed to craft both the bathtub and the toilet by starting with any other mood, finishing the item uncomfortable. I got them both on the first and only try so it might be just luck and not a foolproof method.
- I noticed something I knew, but evidently forgot: the tub and toilet don't have a broken state thumbnail, only the quality will tell you if it's the item you want
- The "uncomfortable finish" does not work for the endtable, despite numerous tries. Unfortunatly my sim is now lvl 10, it doesn't help.
- I don't know if the poor quality endtable has the correct thumbnail, so for all I know she made it multiple times before and I sold them like an idiot.
Oh well, I have a bathtub now. Outside of showers while vacationing, I had to do the entire challenge with no shower and only the herbalism deodorizing cream and that was an adventure.
https://i.imgur.com/F6PpTLEl.png
Now to wait for the new fundation tool to build an outhouse ... Hang in there, sim.
