I think we are talking past each other. Here's what I mean: There is a cliche that is used in many contexts "don't re-invent the wheel". That's why I brought up the wheel. No longer using stone wasn't a reinvention. It was a refinement, or improvement. I brought up Satoshi because his genius was putting together all the brilliant technology created by cryptographers before him. I'm not a coder, but I think I see your point. By reinventing you learn far more, and relying on the crutch of your old ideas and ideas of others might stifle your creativity and prevent innovation. I would think there needs to be a balance.