This is a very good article about balloon framing and how houses are built. However, balloon framing is NOT an example of worse-is-better. Post-and-beam, the

This is a very good article about balloon framing and how houses are built. However, balloon framing is NOT an example of worse-is-better. Post-and-beam, the technique that balloon and platform framing have replaced, is just worse-is-worse. It requires more effort, more expensive materials, more skilled labor, and is less sophisticated in how it uses materials and so for the same amount of materials produces a weaker and less stable, less efficient structure. Worse-is-better is about how a faster to market, good enough solution that people can use is better than the 'better' solution that comes later. The solution that is simple will be used again and again, the elegant solution that is more efficient or more general but harder to apply will be neglected since users have high skill with the simpler tool and will prefer it as a result. Balloon framing (and then platform framing) is simpler AND more elegant AND far cheaper AND produces a superior result, so it's simply not a case of worse-is-better.