We have no idea how much friction they've experienced over the years due to the decision to roll their own language.

Just because they've been successful doesn't mean they haven't expended unnecessary effort to get there.

Climbing a mountain carrying an extra unnecessary 15 kilos is still successfully climbing a mountain - but carrying an extra 15 kilos whilst doing so is still a bad idea.

You have to think _very_ highly of Fog Creek to believe that they've been so successful despite making a massive strategic blunder a few years in.

Companies succeed all the time despite making terrible decisions or sub-optimal choices.

Speak to anyone at almost any company and you will get at least one story of some unbelievably bone headed strategic mistake the company is making.