To thoroughly abuse the metaphor, you don't always want to go where the giant goes. Sometimes you would like to climb down and walk your own direction. Dependen

To thoroughly abuse the metaphor, you don't always want to go where the giant goes. Sometimes you would like to climb down and walk your own direction. Dependencies can take you near where you want to go, and if they can take you all the way there, terrific! Use them for as long as you can! But if you're not directing the giant, you're subject to its whims. And the more people standing on the giant's shoulders, yelling in its ears where they want it to go, the harder it is to make sure it's going where you want. At a certain point, this risk outweighs the rewards, and you adjust accordingly.