One term that captures a sizeable slice of the discussion is Emergence[1] There is some size tipping point (waves hands) where the Toy Problem exits the nest a

One term that captures a sizeable slice of the discussion is Emergence[1] There is some size tipping point (waves hands) where the Toy Problem exits the nest and starts encountering the Real World. The really good RDBMS design encounters data at scale that exposes fresh pain points, and so forth. The better engineers will have a fighting chance of surviving the onslaught. Gall's Law: "A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over with a working simple system."[2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergence [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gall_(author) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gall_(author)