This was kind of hard to read, but I think you've missed the point.
You seem to be talking about developing new technologies. Sam is talking about commercialising them. There's a big difference. In almost every of the cases you listed the technology was built in response to customer demand.
Yes, there are differences, and you mentioned some. But I believe that the alternative approach I described can work for commercial products and where the founder observes the need. Indeed, as I mentioned, the approach has a severe filter; if the founder can't observe a need where the first good or a much better solution will be a "must have", then back to (1) and try again.
Getting an idea all the way through the filter might be challenging. But, it seems to me that for an idea that does get through the filter, execution should be routine and project success quite likely.
You seem to be talking about developing new technologies. Sam is talking about commercialising them. There's a big difference. In almost every of the cases you listed the technology was built in response to customer demand.