It's harder to read code than to write it.
All non-trivial abstractions, to some degree, are leaky.
Remember, just because Microsoft can do something, doesn't mean you can. Microsoft makes their own gravity. Normal rules don't apply to them.
That's another flaw with performance-based rewards: They are easy for one of your competitors to top.
Every day that we spent not improving our products was a wasted day.
Talk to your customers. Find out what they need. Don't pay any attention to the competition. They're not relevant to you.