From my time there, the most important thing about 20% time, from my POV, was the message to all engineers that innovation, personal growth, and expanding the b

From my time there, the most important thing about 20% time, from my POV, was the message to all engineers that innovation, personal growth, and expanding the boundaries of your work, is important to the company. It was less important whether you really engaged in a true 20% or not. The point was that the company very loudly endorsed the idea of it -- even if in practice, it was hard to get right.