Could they? If they stopped pouring money into research and development, that would mean that any competitor with superior technology could eventually upend the

Could they? If they stopped pouring money into research and development, that would mean that any competitor with superior technology could eventually upend them. When betting on technology companies in the long term, you're betting on two things: continued growth and the absence of a competitor that disrupts their business model or industry. To avoid the latter, you need research and development to stay competitive.