Agreed, I think the OP is missing the real meaning of the phrase "don't reinvent the wheel". The phrase does NOT mean "don't improve on the wheel". Nor does i

Agreed, I think the OP is missing the real meaning of the phrase "don't reinvent the wheel". The phrase does NOT mean "don't improve on the wheel". Nor does it mean, "The stone wheel is and always was great, don't try new materials." It means, "Don't create this whole thing from scratch thinking its original and new, when some research will reveal that it isn't." In patent terms, it means, "Check for prior art." Linus Torvalds (OP's example) had a deep knowledge of Unix before he began what became Linux. If he hadn't such knowledge, he would have not been successful, for one of the great draws of Linux was its familiarity. In other words, he didn't "reinvent the wheel".