I don't think they have to stay lucky, I think they have to stay calm. The problem is, often when the luck runs out, the calm does too. Amidst panic people seek refuge in tradition, not finding it a place like Netflix could collapse you're right.

But I don't see why these rules couldn't work in a contracting revenue scenario, as long as you keep cutting staffing levels where they need to be to keep a runway.

That too makes it hard to stay calm though. The severance policy helps.