Domain Names - Expired or Not Yet Expired?!

I'm relatively new to domain names (DNs) - expired or not.

I was thinking of buying a DN thru GoDaddy, until I read an old post (about 7 yr.s ago) in a WF Thread (which, since it's long-ish, I'll put at the bottom of this post).

Basically, it said that if a DN has already expired, it has (almost certainly?) lost it's SEO value, having lost its DA, PR, etc. as soon as it's been deleted or expired. So, better to buy one that's about to expire - which I guess means getting into a DN auction which is essentially a bidding war .. which would (could very well) get (very) expensive, right?

Since I'm "financially challenged (don't try living solely on Social Security - I'd appreciate a bit of help, advice.

1) Is that basically true (about expired domains having no SEO-value (or little, anyway)?

2) Is there a way - a website or service, preferably free or low cost - to find expired or about to expire DNs with at least some SEO value?

3) Can you recommend a WSO on this topic - either finding expired DNs with *some* SEO value &/or on how to survive a DN auction?

4) I couldn't find a recent thread on the WF about this topic. If anyone knows of one, please post the link.

Thanks,
Richard
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From *about* 7 years ago:

"Do you really want domains that have already been dropped??? Or do you want domains that are about to drop? I ask because there is a HUGE difference.

If you wait until a domain fully drops then the age is lost! That puts you back at square one with Google. Buying domains that have not yet been deleted allows them to keep their age. Getting an aged domain with your desired keywords, especially if it has PR and hundreds of backlinks, is the Holy Grail of domains to an internet marketer.

I don't know of any free sites that fit the bill now that Freshdrop has gone paid.

I know someone who is developing a site that has much the same stats/functions of Freshdrop - and it will be much cheaper. I don't think there will be any more free sites because of the resources running the cron jobs and such consumes. Sorry."