"Given his considerable business experience (and the lack of downside to letting him create his model)" Warning signs! Translation: "He doesn't know what he's

"Given his considerable business experience (and the lack of downside to letting him create his model)" Warning signs! Translation: "He doesn't know what he's doing" (or he wouldn't be making predictions on made-up numbers), "and I'm letting him waste some time" (ie, "the lack of downside"). Not sounding good :)