One of the better posts I've ever read here. It's all sales. The guy who does excellent work but doesn't sell will get buried by the guy that does awful work but can sell. Period. Full stop.
No. Create value, describe that value.
A salesman can sell ice to the Inuit, but that doesn't make a sustainable business model.
Create value, learn to describe that value.
That's not sales, that's understanding the value of what you do and being able to communicate it.
If you disagree walk into a car dealership. If you walk out with an expensive car you don't need, that's sales. Sales is bullshit.
A CTO understands technology and can create value. Sales is not necessary. Value sells itself.
I disagree with everything you wrote. There are hundreds of companies that offer inferior products and crush competitors with superior offerings. They do it through sales. SAP and Salesforce are two of many examples. No one I have ever met says "we love SAP" or "we love Salesforce" yet both are known leaders in their spaces. Why? Has nothing to do with describing value and everything to do with sales.
Sell Sell Sell some more