[rjempson]

You are right that it was a generalization, however you are pretty much arguing the same point as the author.

I remember seeing a matrix/graph in a book, maybe 'code complete' or some other popular book. It basically had complexity on the y axis and risk on the x axis. The point being that high risk, and high complexity projects would justify the most discipline, testing, proofs etc, and the low risk low complexity projects justify minimal process. Something like an inventory management system for a t-shirt shop would be the latter, and sending a pacemaker to the moon would be the former.