Regardless of whether it is or isn't "hacking the system", that answer tells you something about the someone in question. From that, I learn that they are able

Regardless of whether it is or isn't "hacking the system", that answer tells you something about the someone in question. From that, I learn that they are able to exert focused discipline and flex willpower where others might not be able to. I've flown a kite once in my life, as part of a competition, that I won. My kite flew more than twice as high as the next highest kite. After the competition, people asked how I got my kite so high, and my answer was just that I brought more string than they did. Some might attribute that to dumb luck, but I have a history of winning silly little competitions like this by being prepared.