The OSI model was always more of a GoF software "Design Pattern" for network stacks. It's certainly one way you can do it, and breaking down the conceptual fun

The OSI model was always more of a GoF software "Design Pattern" for network stacks. It's certainly one way you can do it, and breaking down the conceptual functions in the way they do makes it easier to understand the whole stack by looking each function in isolation. But it's not "the" only way to do it and following it doesn't guarantee a better outcome than not following it. Still, I thought it was a good way of presenting the material, but then I came across student after student insisting it was the only possible way to structure network stacks. It's not. Despite being a ISO standard, no real follows it exactly. It's prime use just an educational tool.