It seems foolish to "take" one small part of the thing and try to "use" it elsewhere, while ignoring the massive difference that dwarfs all the others: workers

It seems foolish to "take" one small part of the thing and try to "use" it elsewhere, while ignoring the massive difference that dwarfs all the others: workers managing themselves. That's what's important and new here, and that, supported by the fact that Valve has been so profitable, is what we ought to be talking about. This discussion is the HN equivalent of the prospective employee/er who pays lip service to "culture" but is really only interested in salary.