[tech_nofounder]

I appreciate your rant (and someone else said, I sound like an "alpha male" jockeying for position - that's a first in my career, but I guess I'm grateful for the disguise!)

I think it's difficult to defend what's gotten me to even consider this question - after months of looking for better solutions - without getting too detailed.

  Without this co-founder the company was literally NOTHING

I just want to give this as an example -- this is not nearly the origin story of the company. I know you are picturing a classical founder and founding story and, well, it's different.

Thanks everyone for the advice!