This was also my first thought. While it's never the intention, there's real risk of making things about yourself/the project instead of your partner. Not because you rank one as more important, just because it's a more "known" thing that feels more comfortable.

Nothing wrong with research...if there are existing tools within reach (and it seems like there are) then it seems like it'd be interesting and possibly helpful to dive in. But I'd strongly encourage you to timebox it as a project so it doesn't grow into something unhealthy.