Then there's a "nuance" aspect you could use: maybe we do want a hierarchical model -- in a "middleware" level, for a specific app, just not for the operatio

Then there's a "nuance" aspect you could use: maybe we do want a hierarchical model -- in a "middleware" level, for a specific app, just not for the operational data store used by multiple applications. But your "yellow belt" coder might not do this, or, might build out a bunch of layers for something trivial, because that is what was in The Book. Amen! (preaching to the choir, at this point, sorry)