[rahimnathwani]

I agree with you.

The point I was trying to make is this: in the example you gave ("waiting to install software") or the one I gave (warming up a car on the driveway), you can get the system ready for action without creating any impact in a production environment.

The case of email servers is an unusual example where you have to do real world tests in order to make the system work. In most other situations, you can do everything before the rubber hits the road.

So, whilst this could have been handled much better, it's not a simple situation.