[drc500free]

This is the most important bit, to me:

> By the end of the day, we had complete models on the screen, manipulating them with the controllers. Within a week, we had an environment to move the model through.

The Black Triangle was a leading indicator of a payoff that began happening by the end of the day. Too many similar projects result in a constant string of promises that we are just about to turn the corner on velocity/capability if only we would let the engineers focus on this refactor for a bit longer.

In practice, "Black Triangles" projects are bets like any other. If they work out, they unlock faster velocity and the ability to deliver better features. Often they deliver nothing but a refactor to someone's idea of a better architecture, and are lucky to ever reach breakeven on engineering time.