Certificate first or drone first? I have $1,400 and no idea

Sitting on about $1,400 and trying to work out the order of operations on the aerial side, because everyone I ask gives me the opposite answer.

One path is spend on the Part 107 study material and the test first, own the certificate, and rent or borrow equipment for the first few paid jobs. Argument for it is that the certificate is what makes commercial work legal in the US and the FAA requirements are what they are regardless of what I own, so I'd confirm the current ones with the FAA and then go earn. I also can't accidentally do paid work I'm not allowed to do.

The other path is buy a capable used drone now and put 40 or 50 hours on the sticks doing free footage for friends' listings, then test once I actually fly well. Argument for it is that nobody hires you because you passed a knowledge test. They hire you because your footage looks steady and the reveal shot lands, and that takes practice hours I can't fake.

Third option people keep suggesting is skipping both for now, finding a certified pilot, and selling shoots I subcontract out so I learn the client side before I spend anything on gear or tests.

I genuinely don't know which of these is the smart first $1,400. Where would you put it?