[geocar]

> Doesn't the checkbook of a business literally pay salaries?

Hint: Some businesses don't even use checkbooks.

> I'm unclear as to what you're arguing here.

Is it really unclear?

Having small-scale tickets that you actually finish is the very essence of agile

This I disagree with. "lmm" seems to think that tickets are either "the very essence of agile" or perhaps even essential to "deliver value to the business."