[derefr]

There are many edge-cases where a product can be viable without actually working. They mostly come down to markets where the buyers are affected by principal-agent problems, and thus are willing to buy something that "doesn't work" for the principal's use-case, as long as it matches the incentives the principal has put upon them.

For example, it's very easy to sell things to defense [sub]contractors. They're not spending their own money; and, in fact, the more money they hand out to others, the more they can consume as a margin. As long as what they get in return matches the strict definition of a few check-boxes, they can't be blamed.