[earljwagner]

Thanks for the insights. OK, that makes more sense and I can see the utility of the published results.

Now it sounds to me like when a corporation or large federal agency fails in implementing a new or upgraded software system because the process has become unmanageable. From your perspective in both worlds (setting aside the results published so far) does that analogy capture it?

[Fomite]

I don't think it quite captures it, because the NCS might not be "unmanageable", but simply too expensive for what people think its budget will be, or not be able to achieve some of its goals (good followup, a nationally representative sample, etc.).

It would be more like...if you rolled out an upgraded software system in a couple departments, collected some feedback, and decided not to go with the company wide rollout.