[swengw]

Seems similar, since the average startup temporarily employs people and results in nothing (although over a longer period of time).

[inimino]

The opportunity cost of the people digging the hole should be lower, and at the end, at least they'll have a hole. A clear win over the median startup.

Besides, they are literally changing the world.

[chadscira]

Awe, hey we end up with more than a empty hole! What about all of the dead code!

[TeMPOraL]

Also often wastes fuel, time and other precious resources manufacturing physical swag that will end up in trash cans after the company inevitably dies. Externalities of the hole are at least related to the hole itself.

[kome]

ahahha! Indeed, good point. Startup economy consists in a lot of hole digging...