Seems unlikely, doesn't it? I suspect it's not true. This guy clearly wasn't producing his 'best work'. The rest of the team, from his description, doesn't seem

Seems unlikely, doesn't it? I suspect it's not true. This guy clearly wasn't producing his 'best work'. The rest of the team, from his description, doesn't seem very competent. Does your question presuppose that everyone is somehow magically doing their 'best work'? If so, do you have any evidence of that? Lots of companies get by with shitty cultures and low-productivity employees.