The deadline is still immovable. Yes, you've planned with a buffer, but you're still betting the farm that ultimately, it will come out in time to capture that

The deadline is still immovable. Yes, you've planned with a buffer, but you're still betting the farm that ultimately, it will come out in time to capture that business. And Black Friday season is large enough (30% of annual retail) that you might well try for a farm-sized bet. Been there. Done that. Had the conversations around risk. It is both "it must be operational by this day, or huge losses" and "we would rather not ship your effort than ship it between Black Friday and Christmas".