[aaron695]

> This post sorely lacks evidence for its big first claim

Agreed.

I think the premise is true, but PG has given no actual insight.

NGO's are a good anti-example. In developing countries we know of working solutions but fashionable rules. I like computers so I'll give them to the poor.

Elon is a good working example, rather than looking at existing tech in space craft he looked at how to make them cheaper using steel and methane.

There's a Just So Story about rapid prototyping that I think fits how to break the mold. I can't remember which competition, but the winner won by working out how to cheaply rapidly prototype working models rather than tackling the problem head on.

So they didn't so much not be fashionable but created a system that allowed for non fashionable ideas.