I think you're both talking past each other a bit. The difference is between maximizing short-term gains and maximizing long-term gains. The thing about inves

I think you're both talking past each other a bit. The difference is between maximizing short-term gains and maximizing long-term gains. The thing about investing is that you can take advantage of maximizing short-term gains and get out before the investment would crater. So taking advantage of a non-sustainable business model is fine if you can get out before the bill comes due. This is rational, but not sustainable. If you're running the company, and you care about it, and its employees, then you want something sustainable in the long-term.