Exactly, the old gear does still work. But companies make more money when we all feel pressure to upgrade every year. They design things to seem outdated even when they function perfectly fine. My five year old boots still keep my feet dry, so I'm not buying the hype.

Actually, the word 'silent' here might be a bit off. It's not always quiet when approvals take forever. You start getting calls from bill collectors, and that's pretty loud. Cash flow dries up fast, and it's more than just going broke. It hurts your rep when you can't pay others on time. So it's a whole chain reaction, not just a slow drain.