The author also fails to provide data that backs up the implied argument that the capital expenditures would've yielded a better return if applied towards the s

The author also fails to provide data that backs up the implied argument that the capital expenditures would've yielded a better return if applied towards the salaries of existing employees. He's making classic "sunk cost" conceptual gaffe: Future decisions should be made independent of past ones. Even if yahoo had that extra $2.5BN, that doesn't mean the company should hold onto underperforming employees.